Juan José Pérez Hernández

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Juan José Pérez Hernández (ca. 1725-November 3, 1775), often simply Juan Pérez, was an 18th century Spanish explorer. He was the first European to sight, examine, name, and record the islands near present-day British Columbia, Canada. Born in Mallorca, he served as a pilot on ships en route to the Philippines from the American continent. In 1768, he was assigned to San Blas and acquired the rank of ensign (alférez).

1 Background
2 Voyage to the North
3 Second Voyage
4 Notes
5 External links

[edit] Background

The Spanish claim to Alaska and the Pacific Northwest had dated back to a 1493 papal bull (Inter caetera) and rights contained in the 1494 Treaty of Tordesillas; these two formal acts gave Spain the exclusive rights to colonize all of the Western Hemisphere (excluding Brazil), including the exclusive rights to colonize all of the the west coast of North America. The first European expedition to actually reach the west coast of North America was led by the Spaniard Vasco Núñez de Balboa, which achieved the Pacific coast of Panama in 1513. Balboa claimed the Pacific Ocean for the Spanish Crown, as well as the lands touching it, including all of the west coast of North America. This action of Balboa further solidified the Spanish claim of exclusive control over the entire west coast of North America.

Confident of their claims, the Spanish Empire did not explore or settle the northwest coast of North America in the 250 years after Balboa's claim. By the late 1700s, however, learning of Russian Empire and British arrivals along the Pacific coast, Spain finally grew sufficiently concerned about their claims to the Pacific Northwest and set out to learn the extent of the Russian and British encroachment.

[edit] Voyage to the North

In late 1773, the viceroy of New Spain, Antonio María Bucareli y Ursúa, commanded Pérez to explore the Pacific coast with the objective of reaching north 60° north latitude (about the latitude of today's Cordova, Alaska) to discover possible Russian settlements and to re-assert the long-standing Spanish claim to the Pacific Northwest. Rumors of Russian fur traders caused the Spanish to send the frigate Santiago north under the command of Pérez, crewed mostly by Mexicans. Interestingly, Pérez was given explicit instructions to treat all natives with respect, and to establish friendly relations with any natives encountered.^[1]

In July 1774, he reached 52° north latitude, the northwestern tip of Langara Island, one of the Queen Charlotte Islands. There he had an interaction with a group of Haida natives. Pérez turned south, and reached Nootka Sound (at about 50º north latitude), part of today's Vancouver Island. There he had an extended set of interactions with the natives, including the first trade of trade goods. Due to the lack of provisions, Pérez was forced to return before completing his mission. Pérez had been accompanied by Fray Juan Crespi and Fr. Tomás de la Peña Suria (or Savaria). Suria executed a number of drawings which today serve as invaluable records of Tlingit life in the precolonial period.^[1]

Pérez also gave the name of Cerro Nevada de Santa Rosalia ("Snowy Peak of St. Rosalia") to Mount Olympus in the State of Washington, and he was also the first European to sight the Strait of Juan de Fuca.^[1]

[edit] Second Voyage

In 1775, a second expedition under Bruno de Heceta and Juan Francisco de la Bodega y Quadra was organized. Pérez participated as pilot of Heceta's ship, the Santiago.

Pérez died on the return journey, on November 3, 1775, between Monterey, California and San Blas. His body was buried at sea.