Diego de Borica

Diego de Borica
Governor of Las Californias
In office 1791–1792
Preceded by	José Joaquín de Arrillaga
Succeeded by	Pere d'Alberní i Teixidor
Personal details
Profession	Soldier

Diego de Borica was a Spanish explorer and the seventh Governor of Las Californias from 1794 to 1800,^[1] and is credited with defining Alta- and Baja-California's official borders.^[2]

Biography

As the governor, Diego de Borica and Father Fermín Lasuén determined that five more missions were needed in 1795 along El Camino Real.^[3] Borica sent expeditions from four different missions to find suitable new settlements that were no more than one day's travel as military escorts were necessary.^[4] By August 1796, Borica notified Viceroy Miguel de la Grúa Talamanca that no increase in troops was necessary. The first missionary site selected in 1796 was Mission San José near the pueblo of the same name.^[3]

In 1795, Borica gave José Darío Argüello a Spanish land grant known as Rancho de las Pulgas. This rancho was the largest grant on the San Francisco Peninsula spanning 35,260 acres (14,270 ha).^[5]

In 1797, Borica ordered the construction of a battery to protect the cove east of Point Medanos. The location initially was named "Bateria San Jose" and was chosen because the promontory overlooked San Francisco Bay and Alcatraz Island. Borica provisioned the unit with five brass cannons.^[6]

On orders from Viceroy La Grúa Talamanca, Borica established a school grounds at the center of Villa de Branciforte in 1797. Also in 1797, he granted José María Verdugo's retirement.^[7] Verdugo was the grantee of Rancho San Rafael.

Before stepping down as governor, Borica recommended reappointing José Joaquín de Arrillaga to organize military defenses for California.^[2]

See also

• New Spain
• Las Californias
• History of California to 1899
• List of pre-statehood governors of California

References

1. ^ Richard F. Pourade. "Governors of California: Spanish 1769-1822". The History of San Diego. San Diego History Center. https://www.sandiegohistory.org/books/pourade/data/governors1.htm. Retrieved 27 September 2010. 
2. ^ ^{a b} Field, Maria Antonia (2010). "California Under Spanish Rule". Chimes of Mission Bells. [S.l.]: General Books. ISBN 1153595419. http://www.books-about-california.com/Pages/Chimes_of_Mission_Bells/Chimes_of_Mission_Chap_04.html. Retrieved 27 September 2010. 
3. ^ ^{a b} Ralph Wright (September 28, 1998). "More California Mission History: San José". California's Missions. Archived from the original on 2008-06-25. http://web.archive.org/web/20080625015442/http://www.californiamissions.com/morehistory/sanjose.html. Retrieved 27 November 2010. 
4. ^ "Mission San José". Mission Tour. Friday, 15 May 2009. http://missiontour.org/sanjose/history.htm. Retrieved 27 November 2010. 
5. ^ "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. 
6. ^ National Park Service (2010). "Bateria de Yerba Buena, 1797". U.S. Department of the Interior. http://www.nps.gov/goga/historyculture/bateria-de-yerba-buena.htm. Retrieved 27 November 2010. 
7. ^ Manuel P. Servin (Winter 1973). "California's Hispanic Heritage: A View Into the Spanish Myth". The Journal of San Diego History 19 (1). https://www.sandiegohistory.org/journal/73winter/myth.htm. Retrieved 27 November 2010. 

Persondata
Name	Borica, Diego de
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