A Stan Klos Company
ARGUELLO, Luis Antonio, governor of California, born in San
Francisco, California, in 1784, died there in 1830. He was a member of a large
and influential family, was governor of California from November 1822, till
November 1825, and had been military officer under the Spanish government. He
was the first governor under the Mexican rule, and the only one under the
Mexican empire. He was also the first native of California called to serve in
this capacity.
While in office he was led into numerous dealings with the
Russians, who had founded a colony in the northern part of the territory, and
his policy toward them was highly liberal, even dangerously so. Before he became
governor he had acquired some note by an exploring expedition into the unknown
northern parts of California.
*His sister, Concepción Arguello (b. in San Francisco,
California, in 1790; died in Benecia in 1857), was noted for her romance with
Rezanof, the first Russian explorer that showed definite designs upon any part
of California. In 1806 Rezanof, in the interests of the Russian colony at Sitka,
had resolved to open trade with the Californians, and to establish, if possible,
a Russian colony in the territory. To further his ends, he became betrothed to
the young Concepción, hoping for personal aid from the influential Arguello
family. He returned to Russia to get further government approval for his
projects, and suddenly died while absent. Concepción never married, and died, a
nun, half a century later. Her social position gave her story prominence, and it
has been used by Bret Harte in one of his best-known poems.
Edited Appletons Encyclopedia by John Looby, Copyright © 2001 VirtualologyTM
ARGUELLO, Luis Antonio, governor of California, born in San Francisco, California, in 1784" died there in 1830. tie was a member of a large and influential family, was governor of California from November 1822, till November 1825, and had been military officer under the Spanish government. He was the first governor under the Mexican rule, and the only one under the Mexican empire. He was also the first native of California called to serve in this capacity. While in office he was led into numerous dealings with the Russians, who had founded a colony in the northern part of the territory, and his policy toward them was highly liberal, even dangerously so. Before he became governor he had acquired some note by an exploring expedition into the unknown northern parts of California.*His sister, Concepcion (b. in San Francisco, California, in 1790; died in Benecia in 1857), was noted for her romance with Rezanof, the first Russian explorer that showed definite designs upon any part of California. In 1806 Rezanof, in the interests of the Russian colony at Sitka, had resolved to open trade with the Californians, and to establish, if possible, a Russian colony in the territory. To further his ends, he became betrothed to the young Concepcion, hoping for personal aid from the influential Argiiello family. He returned to Russia to get further government approval for his projects, and suddenly died while absent. Concepcion never married, and died, a nun, half a century later. Her social position gave her story prominence, and it has been used by Bret ltarte in one of his best-known poems.
