José de Züñiga

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José de Zúñiga (1755–), soldier and early California and Arizona settler

Zúñiga was born 1755 in Cuautitlán, near Mexico City, to Spanish parents. He enlisted October 18, 1772 as an officer trainee in the frontier army. He initially serves on the Texas frontier. In 1780 he is promoted to lieutenant while stationed at the Presidio of San Carlos de Cerro Gordo, in the remote Big Bend Country.

In 1781 Lt. Zúñiga he leads his troops to Mission San Gabriel. He becomes Commandant of the Presidio of San Diego on September 8, 1781 and served that post 12 years, until October 19, 1793. While there, he has cordial relations with his men, the Indians, his superiors, and missionaries. In 1782 Zúñiga lays a road from San Diego Bay to the presidio.

That same year he also builds the Presidio chapel. He was its carpenter, mason, and painter, for the chapel. He also orders a statue of the Immaculate Conception (which is now at Mission San Luis Rey). In a letter to his mother in Mexico City, he proudly describes the chapel and sends money to purchase "carmine, vermillion and other painting materials", garden and flower seeds, and to send any Dramas she can spare to read. In 1784, Zúñiga becomes a member of the third order of Franciscans.

Zúñiga had a reputation for honesty. He also served as quartermaster/paymaster and his books were always in order. He found a deficit in the books for $7000. The previous quartermaster/paymaster, Rafael Pedro y Gil, was arrested and sent to San Blas, Nayarit.

On May 19, 1792 Zúñiga is promoted to captain and assigned to the Presidio of Tucson, but has to wait until 1793 until his successor for San Diego arrives. After detached duty in Monterey, Züñiga arrives in Tucson in 1794. In 1795 Zúñiga blazes a trail between Tucson and the Zuni pueblos in 1795. Apache hostilities, however, prevented that route from becoming well-traveled. During 1804–1806 Zúñiga is commander at Tucson. He later serves at Arizpe, and retires as lieutenant colonel and Adjutant Inspector of Presidios.

Züñiga had at least two sons. His son Ignacio was born 1796 in Tucson. He had a previous son born 1783 as the result of an affair with Teresa Morillo, wife of an enlisted man, Manuel Nieto.

[edit] See also

• Bancroft, Hubert Howe, The History of California (1884) Vol I. 1542-1800, pp. 451-452, 645-656
• "Don Joseph de Zuniga Second Commandant of the San Diego Presidio" (Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation)