Juan Bautista de Anza

Juan Bautista de Anza
55th Spanish Governor of New Mexico
In office 1778–1788
Preceded by	Francisco Trevre
Succeeded by	Fernando de la Concha
Personal details
Born	July 6/7, 1736 Fronteras, Sonora, New Spain
Died	December 19, 1788 Arizpe, New Spain
Profession	Explorer and Governor of New Mexico
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Juan Bautista de Anza Bezerra Nieto (July 6/7, 1736 – December 19, 1788) was a New-Spanish explorer of Basque descent, and Governor of New Mexico for the Spanish Empire.

Juan Bautista de Anza was born in Fronteras, Sonora, New Spain (today Mexico) in 1736 (near Arizpe), into a military family living on the northern frontier of New Spain. He was the son of Juan Bautista de Anza I. In 1752 he enlisted in the army at the Presidio of Fronteras. He advanced rapidly and was a captain by 1760. He married in 1761. His wife was the daughter of Spanish mine owner Francisco Pérez Serrano. They had no children. His military duties mainly consisted of forays against hostile Native Americans, such as the Apache, during the course of which he explored much of what is now Arizona.

The Spanish began colonizing Alta California with the Portolá expedition of 1769-1770. The two-pronged Portolá effort involved both a long sea voyage against prevailing winds and the California Current, and a difficult land route from Baja California. Colonies were established at San Diego and Monterey, with a presidio and Franciscan mission at each location. A more direct land route and further colonization were desired, especially at present-day San Francisco, which Portolá saw but was not able to colonize. By the time of Juan Bautista de Anza's expedition, three more missions had been established, including Mission San Antonio de Padua in the Salinas Valley.

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