José Joaquín Moraga
Encyclopedia
José Joaquín de la Santísima Trinidad Moraga (August 22, 1745 – 1785) (usually known as José Joaquín Moraga) was an early explorer to Alta California
. Moraga is also known as the founder of El Pueblo de San José de Guadalupe, later known as San José
, California.
, Arizona, in the Viceroyalty of New Spain. He is credited with building the Presidio of San Francisco
after the site was selected by Juan Bautista de Anza
in 1776. Moraga founded the Pueblo of San José on orders from Antonio María de Bucareli y Ursúa
, Spanish Viceroy of New Spain. The city was founded in honor of Saint Joseph
on November 29, 1777 as the first town in the Spanish colony of Nueva California, which later became Alta California
. The city served as a farming community to support the Presidio of San Francisco and the Presidio of Monterey
. Moraga died in San Francisco in 1785 and buried at Mission Dolores Cemetery
in 1790.
was also a Spanish soldier in California
and led expeditions exploring the San Joaquin Valley
.
The town of Moraga, California
is named in honor of Joaquin Moraga, the grantee of Rancho Laguna de los Palos Colorados
and grandson of José Joaquín Moraga.
Alta California
Alta California was a province and territory in the Viceroyalty of New Spain and later a territory and department in independent Mexico. The territory was created in 1769 out of the northern part of the former province of Las Californias, and consisted of the modern American states of California,...
. Moraga is also known as the founder of El Pueblo de San José de Guadalupe, later known as San José
San Jose, California
San Jose is the third-largest city in California, the tenth-largest in the U.S., and the county seat of Santa Clara County which is located at the southern end of San Francisco Bay...
, California.
Life
José Joaquín Moraga was born on August 22, 1745 in Mission Los Santos Ángeles de GuevaviMission Los Santos Ángeles de Guevavi
Mission Los Santos Ángeles de Guevavi was founded by Jesuit missionary Fathers Kino and Salvatierra in 1691 as La Misión de San Gabriel de Guevavi, a district headquarters in what is now Arizona, near Tumacácori...
, Arizona, in the Viceroyalty of New Spain. He is credited with building the Presidio of San Francisco
Presidio of San Francisco
The Presidio of San Francisco is a park on the northern tip of the San Francisco Peninsula in San Francisco, California, within the Golden Gate National Recreation Area...
after the site was selected by Juan Bautista de Anza
Juan Bautista de Anza
Juan Bautista de Anza Bezerra Nieto was a Novo-Spanish explorer and Governor of New Mexico for the Spanish Empire.-Early life:...
in 1776. Moraga founded the Pueblo of San José on orders from Antonio María de Bucareli y Ursúa
Antonio María de Bucareli y Ursúa
Antonio María de Bucareli y Ursúa, marqués de Valleheroso y conde de Jerena was a Spanish military officer, governor of Cuba, and viceroy of New Spain .-Beginning of his administration:He was governor of Cuba when he was named viceroy...
, Spanish Viceroy of New Spain. The city was founded in honor of Saint Joseph
Saint Joseph
Saint Joseph is a figure in the Gospels, the husband of the Virgin Mary and the earthly father of Jesus Christ ....
on November 29, 1777 as the first town in the Spanish colony of Nueva California, which later became Alta California
Alta California
Alta California was a province and territory in the Viceroyalty of New Spain and later a territory and department in independent Mexico. The territory was created in 1769 out of the northern part of the former province of Las Californias, and consisted of the modern American states of California,...
. The city served as a farming community to support the Presidio of San Francisco and the Presidio of Monterey
Presidio of Monterey, California
The Presidio of Monterey, located in Monterey, California, is an active US Army installation with historic ties to the Spanish colonial era. Currently it is the home of the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center .-Spanish fort:...
. Moraga died in San Francisco in 1785 and buried at Mission Dolores Cemetery
Mission San Francisco de Asís
Mission San Francisco de Asís, or Mission Dolores, is the oldest surviving structure in San Francisco and the sixth religious settlement established as part of the California chain of missions...
in 1790.
Legacy
Moraga's son Gabriel MoragaGabriel Moraga
Gabriel Moraga a Spanish army officer, son of José Joaquín Moraga a member of Juan Bautista de Anza's expeditions to California, was one of the first Europeans to explore California's Great Central Valley . He led expeditions of Spanish soldiers into the valley, becoming its first explorer...
was also a Spanish soldier in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
and led expeditions exploring the San Joaquin Valley
San Joaquin Valley
The San Joaquin Valley is the area of the Central Valley of California that lies south of the Sacramento – San Joaquin River Delta in Stockton...
.
The town of Moraga, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
is named in honor of Joaquin Moraga, the grantee of Rancho Laguna de los Palos Colorados
Rancho Laguna de los Palos Colorados
Rancho Laguna de Los Palos Colorados was a Mexican land grant in present day Contra Costa County, California given in 1841 by Governor Juan Alvarado to Joaquin Moraga and his cousin, Juan Bernal. The name means "Ranch of the Lake of the Redwoods" in Spanish...
and grandson of José Joaquín Moraga.