Gaspar de Portolà
| Gaspar de Portolå | |
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-Variant.svg){kind=small} First Governor of Alta California
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In office November 30, 1767 to July 9, 1770 |
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| Preceded by | Office established |
| Succeeded by | Pedro Fages |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1716 Os de Balaguer, Catalonia, Spain |
| Died | 1786 Lleida, Spain |
| Cause of death | Age |
| Resting place | Lleida |
| Citizenship | Spanish |
| Nationality | Spanish |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Spain |
| Service/branch |
 Army of Spain
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| Rank |
 Captain
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Gaspar de Portolà i Rovira (1716–1786) was a Spanish soldier and administrator in New Spain and became the founder and first governor of Alta California, as commander of the Spanish colonizing expedition on land and sea that established San Diego and Monterey. Portolà also led the first land expedition from San Diego to San Francisco. He named many geographic features on the way, many of which are still in use.
Portolà was born on January 1, 1716 in Os de Balaguer, in Catalonia, Spain, of Catalan nobility. Don Gaspar served as a soldier in the Spanish army in Italy and Portugal. He was commissioned ensign in 1734, and lieutenant in 1743.
By 1767, Jesuit missionaries on the Baja California Peninsula started establishing missions there. Later, rumors circulated that the Jesuits had amassed a fortune and were becoming very powerful. As part of the nearly global suppression of the Jesuits, King Carlos III ordered the Jesuits expelled and deported to the Papal States on the Italian peninsula. Following the command of the king, the Viceroy of New Spain ordered the arrest and deportation of all Jesuits in missions. Portolá was charged with the expulsion of the Jesuits. The missions were turned over to the Franciscans, and later to the Dominicans.
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