José Darío Argüello
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| José Darío Argüello | |
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| In office 1814 – 1815 |
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| Preceded by | José Joaquín de Arrillaga |
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| Succeeded by | Pablo Vicente de Solá |
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| In office 1815 – 1822 |
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| Born | 1753 Santiago de Querétaro, Mexico |
| Died | 1828 (age 75) Guadalajara, Mexico |
| Spouse | Maria Ygnacia Moraga |
| Profession | Politician, soldier |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
José Darío Argüello (1753–1828) Spanish soldier and California pioneer, born in Santiago de Querétaro, Mexico. Argüello enlisted in the Mexico regiment of dragoons, serving as a private, and later sergeant of the presidial company of Altar, Sonora. In 1781 he was promoted to alférez (sub-lieutenant) for what was to become the Presidio of Santa Barbara. He marched with Fernando Rivera y Moncada, who was killed by Yuman Indians, and continued on to Mission San Gabriel until the presidio was founded in 1782. In 1787, Argüello was appointed lieutenant and commandant of the Presidio of San Francisco, serving until 1791 and again from 1796 to 1806, and commandant of the Presidio of Monterey from 1791 to 1796.
After the death of Governor José Joaquín de Arrillaga, Argüello was appointed acting acting governor of Alta California from 1814 to 1815 while he remained in Santa Barbara. For his service he was granted the 53,000 acre (215 km²) Rancho de las Pulgas (Ranch of the Fleas), which covers today's southern San Mateo, Belmont, San Carlos, Redwood City, Atherton, and Menlo Park.
In 1815, Argüello was appointed governor of Baja California, serving until 1822. He died in Guadalajara, Mexico in 1828.
Argüello married Maria Ygnacia Moraga. Two of their sons were Luis Antonio Argüello, California's first native-born governor, and Santiago Argüello, who was commandant of the Presidio of San Diego and alcalde of pueblo San Diego. Their daughter, Maria Concepción, is the subject of an early California love story.
Point Arguello in Santa Barbara County just west of Lompoc, California is named Argüello's honour.
| Pre-Statehood Governors of California | |
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| Portolà • Fages • Rivera • Neve • Fages • Roméu • Arrillaga • Borica • Alberni • Arrillaga • José Darío Argüello • Solá • Luis Antonio Argüello • Echeandía • Victoria • Pío Pico • Zamorano/Echeandía • Figueroa • Castro • Gutierrez • Chico • Gutierrez • Alvarado • Carrillo • Alvarado • Micheltorena • Pío Pico • Flores • Andrés Pico |
