Background Portolá expedition

although inhabited native americans, territory california claimed spanish empire in 1542 right of discovery when juan rodríguez cabrillo explored pacific coast of north america. initial exploration cabrillo laid claim coastline far north forty-two degrees north latitude. northern limit later confirmed united states in 1819 adams–onís treaty.

a competing claim established england privateer francis drake, followed route philippines across pacific established manila galleons, reaching california coast near cape mendocino , sailing south along coast @ least far point reyes in 1579. in 1596, portuguese captain sailing spain, sebastião rodrigues soromenho (spanish: cermeño) explored of same coastline, leaving description of coastal features. portolá expedition carried copy of cermeño s writings guide them along coast.

cermeño followed in 1602 sebastián vizcaíno, coastal explorations in 1602 surveyed several california locations future colonization, including san diego, santa barbara , monterey. vizcaíno sailed north mexico (as cabrillo had done), more difficult undertaking because of prevailing winds , ocean currents.

after vizcaíno, however, spanish empire did little protect or settle region next 160 years, , accomplished no exploration land. affairs in europe took precedence, keeping of maritime powers occupied. little settlement achieved spain establishment of several missions on baja california peninsula jesuit missionaries.

then, in 1767 carlos iii of spain expelled jesuit order spanish kingdom. gaspar de portolá appointed governor of california, sent dispossess jesuits , replace them franciscans set own network of missions in california.