José Darío Argüello

José Darío Argüello
Governor of Alta California
In office 1814–1815
Preceded by	José Joaquín de Arrillaga
Succeeded by	Pablo Vicente de Solá
Governor of Baja California
In office 1815–1822
Personal details
Born	1753 Santiago de Querétaro, New Spain
Died	1828 (age 75) Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
Spouse(s)	María Ygnacia Moraga
Profession	Politician, soldier
Religion	Roman Catholic

José Darío Argüello (1753–1828) was a Spanish soldier and California pioneer, and twice governor of California.

Biography

José Darío Argüello was born in Santiago de Querétaro, New Spain (modern-day Mexico).

Argüello enlisted in the Mexico regiment of dragoons, serving as a private, and later sergeant of the presidial company of Altar, Sonora. In 1781 he was promoted to alférez (sub-lieutenant) and commandant for what was to become the Presidio of Santa Barbara. He marched with Fernando Rivera y Moncada, who was killed by Yuman Indians, and continued on to Mission San Gabriel.

Founding Los Angeles

Under orders from governor Felipe de Neve, Argüello led the first 10 families for the founding of the Pueblo de Los Angeles, present day Los Angeles, on September 4, 1781. He continued on to Santa Barbara when the presidio was founded in 1782. In 1787, Argüello was appointed lieutenant and commandant of the Presidio of San Francisco, serving until 1791 and again from 1796 to 1806, and commandant of the Presidio of Monterey from 1791 to 1796.

Rancho de las Pulgas

In 1795, Governor Diego de Borica issued Argüello a Spanish land grant known as Rancho de las Pulgas. This rancho was the largest grant on the San Francisco Peninsula consisting of 35,260 acres (14,270 ha).^[1]

After the death of Governor José Joaquín de Arrillaga, Argüello was appointed acting governor of Alta California from 1814 to 1815 while he remained in Santa Barbara. While serving in San Francisco the second time, he was requested, and was granted, several parcels which included what later to referred as Rancho de las Pulgas (Ranch of the Fleas).

Baja California

In 1815, Argüello was appointed governor of Baja California, serving until 1822. He died in Guadalajara, Jalisco, in 1828.

Argüello married Maria Ygnacia Moraga. Two of their sons were Luis Antonio Argüello, California's first native-born governor, and Santiago Argüello, who was commandant of the Presidio of San Diego and alcalde of pueblo San Diego. Their daughter, Maria Concepción, is the subject of an early California love story.

Legacy

• Point Arguello in Santa Barbara County just west of Lompoc, California, was named Argüello's honor by George Vancouver in 1793.
• In San Francisco, there is Arguello Boulevard rather than First Avenue.

References

1. ^ "Menlo Park History:Early days in Menlo Park". City of Menlo Park. 2002. http://www.ci.menlo-park.ca.us/homepage/history.html. Retrieved 27 November 2010. 

Further reading

• Online guide to the José Dario Argüello documents, 1792-1815, The Bancroft Library

Persondata
Name	Argüello, José Darío
Alternative names
Short description	Governor of Alta California
Date of birth	1753
Place of birth	Santiago de Querétaro, New Spain
Date of death	1828
Place of death	Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico