Gaspar de Portolá
Gaspar de Portolá | |
|---|---|
| Governor of the Californias | |
| In office November 30, 1767 – July 9, 1770 | |
| Monarch | Charles III |
| Preceded by | Office established |
| Succeeded by | Pedro Fages |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Gaspar de Portolà i Rovira January 1, 1716 Os de Balaguer, Catalonia |
| Died | October 10, 1786 (aged 70) Lleida, Catalonia |
| Resting place | Lleida, Catalonia |
| Signature | |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Spain |
| Branch/service | Spain Army |
| Rank | Captain |
Captain Gaspar de Portolá y Rovira (January 1, 1716 – October 10, 1786) was a Spanish Army officer and colonial administrator who served as the first governor of the Californias from 1767 to 1770. Born in Catalonia into an aristocratic family, he is best known for leading the Portolá expedition into California, which laid the foundations of Spanish rule in the region Californian cities like San Diego and Monterey, and bestowed names to geographic features throughout California, many of which are still in use.