Francisco de Eliza y Reventa (1759 – February 19, 1825) was a Spanish naval officer, navigator, and explorer. Year 1759 ( MDCCLIX) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year Events 197 - Roman Emperor Septimius Severus defeats usurper Clodius Albinus in the Battle of Lugdunum Year 1825 ( MDCCCXXV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common Spain () or the Kingdom of Spain (Reino de España is a country located mostly in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. A navigator is the person onboard a ship or aircraft responsible for its Navigation. He is remembered mainly for his work in the Pacific Northwest. The Pacific Northwest is a region in the northwest of North America (the term refers to the land not the ocean He was the commander of the Spanish post in Nootka Sound on Vancouver Island, and led or dispatched several exploration voyages in the region, including the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the Strait of Georgia. For other uses of the word Nootka see Nootka (disambiguation. Vancouver Island is a large Island in British Columbia, Canada, one of several North American regions named after George Vancouver, the British The Strait of Juan de Fuca (also called Juan de Fuca Strait) is a large body of water about long forming the principal outlet for the Georgia Strait and Puget The Strait of Georgia or the Georgia Strait (also known as the Gulf of Georgia) is a Strait between Vancouver Island (as well as its nearby
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Early life
Francisco de Eliza was born in El Puerto de Santa María, Spain, in 1759. El Puerto de Santa María (Spanish for "The port/harbour of Saint Mary " locally known as just El Puerto) is a city located on the banks of the Guadalete Spain () or the Kingdom of Spain (Reino de España is a country located mostly in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. He began his career with the Spanish Navy in 1773. In 1775 he served in the Spanish expedition against Algiers. Algiers (الجزائر Algerian Arabic: Dzayer ( (From kabyle pronunciation Kabyle: Ledzayer, Alger) is the Capital and largest He was sent to America in 1780 and later took part in the siege of Pensacola, Florida, during the American Revolution. Pensacola is the westernmost city in the Florida Panhandle and the County seat of Escambia County. In this article the inhabitants of the thirteen colonies that supported the American Revolution are primarily referred to as "Americans" with occasional references to "Patriots" [1]
Pacific Northwest
In 1789 Eliza and several other officers were sent to San Blas, the main naval station on the west coast of Mexico, then part of New Spain. San Blas is both a municipality and municipal seat located on the Pacific coast of Mexico The United Mexican States ( or commonly Mexico (ˈmɛksɪkoʊ () is a federal constitutional Republic in North America. The Viceroyalty of New Spain (Virreinato de Nueva España was a name given to the Viceroy -ruled territories of the Spanish Empire in North America, The viceroy of New Spain, Juan Vicente de Güemes, Count of Revillagigedo, gave Eliza command of an expedition to reoccupy the Spanish post in Nootka Sound on Vancouver Island. Juan Vicente de Güemes Padilla Horcasitas y Aguayo 2nd Count of Revillagigedo ( Spanish, with variant name Juan Vicente de Güemes Pacheco de Padilla y Horcasitas The outpost, established by José Martínez, had been abandoned in October of 1789, after the "Nootka Incident", which had expanded to an international crisis between Spain and Great Britain. Esteban José Martínez Fernández y Martínez de la Sierra, or simply Esteban José Martínez (1742-1798 was a Spanish Navigator and Explorer See also Kingdom of Great Britain Great Britain (Breatainn Mhòr Prydain Fawr Breten Veur Graet Breetain is the larger of the two main islands [1]
Eliza sailed to Nootka Sound in command of the ships Concepción, San Carlos, and Princesa Real (formerly the British ship Princess Royal), arriving on April 3, 1790. British merchant vessel Princess Royal From 1786 to 1788 the Princess Royal, under Charles Duncan accompanied the much larger Prince of Wales, under Events 1043 - Edward the Confessor is crowned King of England. Year 1790 ( MDCCXC) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year There were no Europeans present when they arrived. For several years the Spanish pressed their territorial claims to the Pacific Northwest, with Nootka Sound, Francisco Eliza, and other Spanish commanders playing key roles. In addition to the sailing crews of the three ships, Eliza's expedition included 76 soldiers of the Free Company of Volunteers of Catalonia, under the command of Pere d'Alberni. The Free Company of Volunteers of Catalonia ( Spanish: Compañía Franca de Voluntarios de Cataluña, Catalan: Companyia Franca de Voluntaris de This group of people constructed a small fort, and various buildings, planted a garden, and began to organize exploring parties. [1] The outpost was built on a small sheltered cove inside Nootka Sound, called Friendly Cove by the English and Puerto de la Santa Cruz de Nuca by the Spanish (today it is Yuquot, British Columbia). Yuquot (meaning "Wind comes from all directions" or Friendly Cove is a small settlement of less than 25 on in Nootka Sound on Vancouver Island Some Spanish maps show it as Cala de Los Amigos, a translation of the English name. The small fort built by the Spanish was called San Miguel, and was located on a small island at the entrance to the cove. For Angola fort see Fortaleza de São Miguel Fort San Miguel was a Spanish Fortification built at Friendly Cove in Nootka [2]
In May of 1790 two exploring voyages were dispatched by Eliza. Salvador Fidalgo made a voyage north to visit the Russian outposts in Alaska, while Manuel Quimper examined the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Salvador Fidalgo ( 6 August 1756 – 27 September 1803) was a Spanish explorer who commanded an exploring expedition for Spain Manuel Quimper Benítez del Pino (c 1757 – April 1844 was a Peruvian born Spanish Explorer, Cartographer, naval officer and colonial official Quimper's pilot was Gonzalo López de Haro. Gonzalo López de Haro (bef 1788 &ndash 1823 was a Spanish explorer notable for his expeditions in the Pacific Northwest in the late 18th century Some of the important sites found and charted during Quimper's expedition include Neah Bay, Esquimalt Harbour, Admiralty Inlet, Haro Strait, Rosario Strait, and Deception Pass. Neah Bay is a Census-designated place (CDP on the Makah Indian reservation in Clallam County, Washington, United States. The City of Esquimalt (ɨsˈkwaɪmɔlt is a municipality at the southern tip of Vancouver Island, in British Columbia, Canada. Admiralty Inlet is a Strait in the US state of Washington connecting the eastern end of the Strait of Juan de Fuca to Puget Sound Haro Strait, often referred to as the Haro Straits because it is really a series of straits is one of the main channels connecting the Strait of Georgia to the Rosario Strait is a Strait in northern Washington state, separating Island and San Juan Counties. Deception Pass is a Strait separating Whidbey Island from Fidalgo Island, in the northwest part of the U [2]
The relationship between the Spanish and the Nootka natives (Nuu-chah-nulth) was tense. The Nuu-chah-nulth (pronounced) (also formerly referred to as the Nootka, Nutka, Aht, Nuuchahnulth) are one of the Indigenous peoples The year before Eliza arrived a Nootka chief, Callicum, had been killed by the Spanish. Several hostile encounters occurred while Eliza's party was building their settlement. On one occasion, five Nootkas were killed. Nonetheless, Eliza was able to improve the relationship somewhat. At least some of the Nootkas grew friendlier and provide assistance to the Spanish. [1]
The winter of 1790-1791 was difficult for the Spanish under Eliza. A lack of fresh food resulted in outbreaks of scurvy. Scurvy (NLat scorbutus is a disease resulting from a deficiency of Vitamin C, which is required for the synthesis of Collagen in humans During the winter 9 men died and 32 more, too sick to remain, were sent to California to recover. [1]
Further exploration voyages were undertaken in 1791. During the winter Spain had proposed to Great Britain that the Strait of Juan de Fuca could serve as the boundary between Spanish and British territory. If accepted, Spain would have to relocate its Nootka Sound post to a site south the of Strait. This, in addition to the need for a better understanding of the Strait's geography led the viceroy of New Spain to order another exploring expedition, this time led by Francisco Eliza himself. [2]
In early May, Eliza set out in command of the San Carlos, with Juan Pantoja and José Antonio Verdía as first and second pilots. The San Carlos was accompanied by the small schooner, the Santa Saturnina, nicknamed La Orcasitas and under the command of José María Narváez, with Juan Carrasco as pilot. José María Narváez (1768 &ndash August 4, 1840) was a Spanish naval officer Explorer, and Navigator who is mainly remembered Juan Carrasco was a Spanish naval officer Explorer, and Navigator. [3]
Narváez explored the inner waters of Clayoquot Sound and Barkley Sound while Eliza, investigating the outer edge of Clayoquot Sound, met and befriended Wickaninnish, chief of the Tla-o-qui-aht people. Clayoquot Sound (usually or /ˈklækwɒt/ is located on the west coast of Vancouver Island in the Canadian province of British Columbia. Barkley Sound, also known historically as Barclay Sound, is south of Ucluelet and north of Bamfield on the west coast of Vancouver Island and forms the Wickaninnish was a chief of the Tla-o-qui-aht people of Clayoquot Sound, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada during The Tla-o-qui-aht First Nations (formerly referred to as the Clayoquot both pronounced Clay-kwot are a Nuu-chah-nulth First Nation in Canada. Narváez and Eliza entered the Strait of Juan de Fuca separatedly, rejoining at Esquimalt (called "Cordova" by the Spanish) on June 11, 1791. Eliza's pilots then took the Santa Saturnina and a longboat and spent ten days exploring Haro Strait and the found it opened up into a wide body of water to the north. This was the Strait of Georgia, which was previously unknown to Europeans. The Strait of Georgia or the Georgia Strait (also known as the Gulf of Georgia) is a Strait between Vancouver Island (as well as its nearby Eliza remained at Esquimalt during this time. After the pilots returned to Eliza and reported their findings, a longer exploration expedition was fitted out. Narváez led the voyage in the Santa Saturnina. Eliza considered taking the San Carlos along, but his pilots convinced him of that the larger ship would find the narrow channels hazardous. In addition, Eliza fell sick. The entire expedition moved its base of operations from Esquimalt to Port Discovery ("Puerto de Quadra" to the Spanish). Port Discovery Washington is the historical name of what is now called Discovery Bay, a bay in the U Then on July 1, 1791, Narváez, with Carrasco, sailed north, passing through Rosario Strait, past Bellingham Bay, and into the Strait of Georgia. Rosario Strait is a Strait in northern Washington state, separating Island and San Juan Counties. Bellingham Bay is a Bay located on the northern Pacific coast of Washington state in the United States. [3]
For three weeks they followed the Strait northward, reaching as far as Texada Island, which they gave the name "Isla de Texada". Texada Island is the largest island in the Strait of Georgia, British Columbia, Canada. They noted various inlets which, along with the presence of whales led Eliza to think, correctly, that there was another passage to the open ocean. Although the idea of a Northwest Passage to the Atlantic Ocean was by this time an extremely remote possibility, the inlets of the Strait of Georgia rekindled the hope, which led to the 1792 expedition of Dionisio Alcalá Galiano and Cayetano Valdes. The Northwest Passage is a sea route through the Arctic Ocean, along the northern coast of North America via waterways amidst the Canadian Arctic Archipelago Dionisio Alcalá Galiano ( October 8, 1760 &ndash October 21, 1805) was a Spanish naval officer cartographer and explorer Cayetano Valdés y Flores (1767-1834 was a Spanish naval officer who served in the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, fighting for both sides at different [2] A rough map of the Strait of Georgia produced from the voyage of Santa Saturnina showed a particularly large opening to the east. Eliza's report stated that if a Northwest Passage existed at all, it must lie beyond this opening. The Spanish named the inlet "Canal Floridablanca", the investigation of which was made a priority for the expedition of Galiano and Valdes. It turned out to be the mouth of the Fraser River. For other uses of this name see Fraser River (disambiguation. The Santa Saturnina had been too far offshore to see the low lying land. [4]
At the start of Narváez's voyage the Santa Saturnina passed Admiralty Inlet, the entrance to Puget Sound (called "Ensenada de Caamaño" by the Spanish). Admiralty Inlet is a Strait in the US state of Washington connecting the eastern end of the Strait of Juan de Fuca to Puget Sound Puget Sound (ˈpjuːʤᵻt is an arm of the Pacific Ocean, connected to the rest of the Pacific by the Strait of Juan de Fuca, in the Pacific Northwest Narváez saw that it was a large channel leading to the south and planned to explore it after returning from the north. But the Strait of Georgia proved larger than expected and Narváez ran out of food, the Santa Saturnina being very small. Narváez had to return directly to Port Discovery, and then Eliza was eager to then return to Nootka Sound and send a report about the Strait of Georgia. The Spanish thus missed the opportunity of preempting the British exploration of Puget Sound, which took place a year later under George Vancouver. Captain George Vancouver [3]
While sailing back to Nootka Sound Eliza's expedition entered the deep harbor of present-day Port Angeles and gave it the name "Puerto de Neustra Señora de Los Angeles". Port Angeles is a city in and the County seat of Clallam County, Washington, United States. [5] Eliza, with Narváez in the San Carlos, returned to Nootka Sound in August, 1791. The Santa Caturnina, under Carrasco during the return to Nootka, was unable to beat upwind to Nootka and instead sailed to Monterrey, California.
Over time Eliza has received most of the credit for the discoveries made and places named during the 1791 expedition, but he actually did no exploring himself. Most of the credit should go to his pilots Narváez, Carrasco, Pantoja, and Verdía. [3]
The winter of 1791-1792 was easier than the previous one. Shipments of food from Mexico and assistance from the Nootkas helped Eliza's small outpost survive. [1]
On July 24, 1792, Francisco de Eliza left Nootka Sound for Mexico, having completed his mission of re-establishing the Spanish outpost there. Events 1132 - Battle of Nocera between Ranulf II of Alife and Roger II of Sicily. Year 1792 ( MDCCXCII) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year The position of commandant at Nootka Sound passed to Juan Francisco de la Bodega y Quadra. Juan Francisco de la Bodega y Quadra (baptized 3 June, 1743 &ndash 26 March, 1794) was a Peruvian naval officer born in
Later life
In 1793 Eliza commanded an expedition that explored the coast of California. From 1795 to 1801 he was the commander of the naval base at San Blas. In 1803 he was transferred to Cádiz, Spain.
Eliza continued to serve in the Spanish navy. When Spain was occupied by Napoleon from 1808 to 1814, Eliza held a number of political posts at Cádiz. [1]
Legacy
Eliza Island was named in his honor. Eliza Island is one of the San Juan Islands and is located in the western part of Bellingham Bay in the state of Washington, USA.
References
- ^ a b c d e f g Eliza y Reventa, Francisco de, Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online
- ^ a b c d Hayes, Derek (1999). Historical Atlas of the Pacific Northwest: Maps of exploration and Discovery. Sasquatch Books, pp. 69-73. ISBN 1-57061-215-3.
- ^ a b c d McDowell, Jim (1998). José Narváez: The Forgotten Explorer. Spokane, Washington: The Arthur H. Clark Company, pp. 50-55, 60. ISBN 0-87062-265-X.
- ^ Kendrick, John (1990). The Voyage of Sutil and Mexicana, 1792: The last Spanish exploration of the Northwest Coast of America. Spokane, Washington: The Arthur H. Clark Company, p. 19. ISBN 0-87062-203-X.
- ^ Port Angeles, HistoryLink. org
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