Juan Bandini
Encyclopedia
Juan Bandini was an early settler of what would become San Diego, California
.
in 1819 and 1821 and participated in the Mexican War of Independence
. After the revolution his father's family moved to San Diego, arriving in San Diego September 1, 1834 on the brig Natalie.
. They had three daughters, Arcadia
, Ysidora, and Josefa, and two sons, Juanito and one who died in childhood.
Bandini's second wife was Refugia Argüello, daughter of Santiago Argüello
. They had three sons, Juan de la Cruz, Alfredo, and Arturo, and two daughters, Dolores and Victoria.
Bandini built a large U-shaped house, Casa de Bandini, in 1829. Initially it had 12 rooms and was one-story. Bandini was forced to sell his house in 1859 due to financial losses. Part of the building was converted into a store. His house was later converted to the Cosmopolitan Hotel in 1869, with a second story and wraparound porch added. The house still stands in Old Town San Diego, at the east corner of the town square, and has recently been fully remodeled and reopened as a hotel and restaurant. Originally the house and hotel were not stuccoed—that was added in modern times to make it look "Spanish Colonial".
in modern day San Bernardino County
and Riverside County
.
During the Mexican-American War, Bandini supported the Americans. With Santiago Arguello
he issued an appeal to not resist the Americans. After the war, Bandini was increasingly critical of the U. S. government, especially the Land Act of 1851 that allowed Mexican land grants to be challenged. The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
with Mexico, in 1848, had guaranteed the land grants would be recognized.
During March 29–September 27, 1848 he was Juez de Paz (Justice of the Peace) of San Diego Pueblo.
In 1850 he opened a store in San Diego and built the Gilla House hotel. Soon after he moved to Mexico
then in 1855 to Los Angeles
where he died in 1859.
Bandini had a gift of sardonic humor and enjoyed sarcasm.
Richard Henry Dana, Jr.
in Two Years Before the Mast
said of him:
Seeing him again one evening, Dana said he
His lifestyle and hospitality often got him into trouble financially, requiring his children to bail him out in latter years.
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
.
Early history
Juan Bandini was born 1800 in Lima, Peru to José Bandini, a Spanish sea captain. His father came to CaliforniaCalifornia
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...
in 1819 and 1821 and participated in the Mexican War of Independence
Mexican War of Independence
The Mexican War of Independence was an armed conflict between the people of Mexico and the Spanish colonial authorities which started on 16 September 1810. The movement, which became known as the Mexican War of Independence, was led by Mexican-born Spaniards, Mestizos and Amerindians who sought...
. After the revolution his father's family moved to San Diego, arriving in San Diego September 1, 1834 on the brig Natalie.
Marriage and family
Bandini married Marie de los Dolores Estudillo on November 20, 1822. She was born c. 1808, daughter of Captain José María EstudilloJosé María Estudillo
José María Estudillo , was an early settler of San Diego, California and was a governing official during San Diego's Mexican period.-Life:...
. They had three daughters, Arcadia
Arcadia Bandini de Stearns Baker
Arcadia Bandini de Stearns Baker was a wealthy Los Angeles landowner.-Early life in San Diego:Arcadia Bandini born 1825 in San Diego, California, the eldest of three daughters of Juan Bandini and Marie de los Dolores Estudio. Arcadia and her two sisters were considered the most beautiful women of...
, Ysidora, and Josefa, and two sons, Juanito and one who died in childhood.
Bandini's second wife was Refugia Argüello, daughter of Santiago Argüello
Santiago Argüello
-Life:Santiago Argüello was born in Monterey, California, the son of José Darío Argüello, a soldier, and María Ignacia Moraga, a niece of the acting governor of Alta California. Argüello was tall and stout. His fair complexion and black hair, along with his reserved manner gave him a regal...
. They had three sons, Juan de la Cruz, Alfredo, and Arturo, and two daughters, Dolores and Victoria.
Bandini built a large U-shaped house, Casa de Bandini, in 1829. Initially it had 12 rooms and was one-story. Bandini was forced to sell his house in 1859 due to financial losses. Part of the building was converted into a store. His house was later converted to the Cosmopolitan Hotel in 1869, with a second story and wraparound porch added. The house still stands in Old Town San Diego, at the east corner of the town square, and has recently been fully remodeled and reopened as a hotel and restaurant. Originally the house and hotel were not stuccoed—that was added in modern times to make it look "Spanish Colonial".
Civic life
Bandini served various public offices such as member of the assembly, sub-comisario of revenues, and substitute congressman.Rancho Jurupa
In 1838, the Mexican government granted him Rancho JurupaRancho Jurupa
Rancho Jurupa was a Mexican land grant in California, United States, that is divided by the present-day counties of Riverside and San Bernardino. The land was granted to Juan Bandini by Governor Juan B. Alvarado in 1838...
in modern day San Bernardino County
San Bernardino County, California
San Bernardino County is a county in the U.S. state of California. As of the 2010 census, the population was 2,035,210, up from 1,709,434 as of the 2000 census...
and Riverside County
Riverside County, California
Riverside County is a county in the U.S. state of California. One of 58 California counties, it covers in the southern part of the state, and stretches from Orange County to the Colorado River, which forms the state border with Arizona. The county derives its name from the city of Riverside,...
.
During the Mexican-American War, Bandini supported the Americans. With Santiago Arguello
Santiago Argüello
-Life:Santiago Argüello was born in Monterey, California, the son of José Darío Argüello, a soldier, and María Ignacia Moraga, a niece of the acting governor of Alta California. Argüello was tall and stout. His fair complexion and black hair, along with his reserved manner gave him a regal...
he issued an appeal to not resist the Americans. After the war, Bandini was increasingly critical of the U. S. government, especially the Land Act of 1851 that allowed Mexican land grants to be challenged. The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo is the peace treaty, largely dictated by the United States to the interim government of a militarily occupied Mexico City, that ended the Mexican-American War on February 2, 1848...
with Mexico, in 1848, had guaranteed the land grants would be recognized.
During March 29–September 27, 1848 he was Juez de Paz (Justice of the Peace) of San Diego Pueblo.
In 1850 he opened a store in San Diego and built the Gilla House hotel. Soon after he moved to Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
then in 1855 to Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
where he died in 1859.
Public perception
Bandini was dressed elegantly and always gracious, and cut a refined presence wherever he went. He was known as a charming public speaker, fluent writer, excellent dancer, fair musician, and fine horseman. His home was the social center of San Diego.Bandini had a gift of sardonic humor and enjoyed sarcasm.
Richard Henry Dana, Jr.
Richard Henry Dana, Jr.
Richard Henry Dana Jr. was an American lawyer and politician from Massachusetts, a descendant of an eminent colonial family who gained renown as the author of the American classic, the memoir Two Years Before the Mast...
in Two Years Before the Mast
Two Years Before the Mast
Two Years Before the Mast is a book by the American author Richard Henry Dana, Jr., published in 1840, having been written after a two-year sea voyage starting in 1834. A film adaptation under the same name was released in 1946.- Background :...
said of him:
- He had a slight and elegant figure, moved gracefully, danced and waltzed beautifully, spoke the best of Castilian, with a pleasant and refined voice and accent, and had throughout the bearing of a man of high birth and figure.
Seeing him again one evening, Dana said he
- gave us the most graceful dancing that I had ever seen. He was dressed in white pantaloons, neatly made, a short jacket of dark silk gaily figured, white stockings and thin Morocco slippers upon his very small feet.
His lifestyle and hospitality often got him into trouble financially, requiring his children to bail him out in latter years.
See also
- Biography from San Diego Historical Society from Smythe's History of San Diego, p. 164.
- "The Bandini Family", The Journal of San Diego History 15:1 (Winter 1969)
- "Pioneer Spanish Families of California", The Journal of San Diego History 11:3 (June 1965). Reprinted from The Century Magazine XLI n.s. XIX (January 1891), by Charles Howard Shinn.
- 1850 Census, San Diego, California, p. 275B