José Joaquín de Arrillaga

José Joaquín de Arrillaga
7th Governor of Alta California
In office 1792–1794
Preceded by	José Antonio Roméu
Succeeded by	Diego de Borica
10th Governor of Alta California
In office 1800–1814
Preceded by	Pere d'Alberní i Teixidor
Succeeded by	José Darío Argüello
Personal details
Born	1750 Aia, Gipuzkoa, Spain
Died	1814
Profession	Soldier

José Joaquín de Arrillaga was an officer of Basque origin born in Aia, Spain, who went on to become seventh (1792-1794) and tenth (1800–1814) governor of Alta California.

Arrillaga served the Spanish army in Northern Mexico and Texas in the 1780s and 1790s. He was the commandant at Loreto, Baja California Sur. He was well liked by all, known as an efficient and honest officer, so after the death of Governor José Antonio Roméu on April 9, 1792, Arrillaga was appointed acting Governor of California. He hoped to stay in Loreto and humbly rule from there, but he was ordered to the capital in Monterey, California and arrived in July 1793. To see the extent of the Spanish missions in California he traveled north and visited missions and the Presidio of San Francisco, returning to the capital in September 1793. Arrillaga worked to make the Presidios stronger and better run. In his tenure one new mission was founded: Mission Santa Inés (September 17, 1804) and it was a time of peace in the missions.

He had a meeting with George Vancouver an English officer of the British Royal Navy on his 1791–95 expedition, which explored and charted North America's northwestern Pacific Coast regions, including the coasts of contemporary Alaska, British Columbia, Washington and Oregon. He also explored the Hawaiian Islands and the southwest coast of Australia. Arrillaga wanted trading or business with him, specially when he found Vancouver had visited Mission Santa Clara de Asís without asking him if he could. But, Arrillaga did dined and showed him Spanish hospitality.

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