12/07/2025
Californio Chrinicles “Sunday Sit-Down”
Entry 2: the First Exploration of the California Coast
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Long before missions and settlements, the coast of what is now California was touched by its first known European expedition in 1542, led by Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo.
Cabrillo’s background was rough around the edges. His exact birthplace is disputed. He may have been Portuguese, and “Cabrillo” was likely a nickname that translates to “little goat.” He fought under Hernán Cortés during the conquest of the Aztecs. After years in Central America, post conquest, organizing plantations, mines, and shipyards, Cabrillo accepted a new mission. The viceroy of New Spain outfitted a fleet under his command to explore what lay north on the Pacific, searching for wealth, good harbors, and possibly a route that connected to Asia, the Strait of Anián.
On June 27, 1542, three vessels set sail from the port of Puerto de la Navidad, New Spain and part of Jalisco Mexico today. These ships were the flagship San Salvador, a smaller vessel named La Victoria, and a launch called San Miguel. They carried around two hundred men and provisions meant to last two years. The fleet traveled northward along the west coast of Baja California, battling strong currents and unpredictable winds and some of the thickest fog they had seen.
After nearly three months at sea, on September 28, 1542, the expedition entered what Cabrillo described as “a very good enclosed port.” He claimed the land for Spain and named the bay Puerto de San Miguel. Today this is known as San Diego Bay, and it is widely recognized as the first confirmed European landing on the California coast.
After some time in the bay and encounters with indigenous people the ships continued north. They passed the Channel Islands and stopped at places we now identify as Santa Catalina Island and San Clemente Island. They observed native villages along the mainland coast, noted smoke rising from fires near the areas that would become San Pedro and Santa Monica, and remarked on the impressive plank canoes used by coastal peoples near present day Oxnard.
The fleet encountered severe winds near Point Conception and sought refuge among the Channel Islands. During this period Cabrillo was injured. Sources differ. Some say he broke an arm and others describe a fall. Despite the injury he continued leading the voyage. On November 16, 1542, the expedition anchored in what is now Monterey Bay, and there is some evidence that they may have sailed as far north as Point Reyes. They were unable to find the entrance to the future San Francisco Bay, likely due to fog.
Winter storms repeatedly battered the ships. On January 3, 1543, Cabrillo died from complications related to his injury while on San Miguel Island in the Channel Islands. His burial site has never been discovered. Before his death he appointed his pilot Bartolomé Ferrer as the new commander. Ferrer attempted to push farther north, but violent seas, starvation, and scurvy forced the ships to turn back. The remaining crew returned to Navidad in April of 1543.
Although the expedition had revealed more of the coastline than anyone before them, Cabrillo’s death brought the effort to a halt. Spain gained a glimpse of Alta California, but many questions remained. It would be more than fifty years before another major voyage returned to follow the path Cabrillo had begun, this time led by Sebastián Vizcaíno. His arrival will shape the next chapter of the Californio Chronicles.
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