Thread by @HispanicCouncil

Tomás de la Cerda y Aragón was born in Serranía de Guadalajara, on a day ike today,
back in 1638. He was the third Marquis of La Laguna and the Viceroy of New Spain between 1680 and 1686. #RespectHispanicHeritage

During those years, the government of New Spain was not easy. De la Cerda faced an Indian uprising in New Mexico, French privateers in Veracruz and the Gallic advance on the territory of Texas. #RespectHispanicHeritage

Nonetheless, the viceroy also allocated part of the resources at hand to encourage the exploration of new territories. Specifically, he sent a missionary expedition to what he thought was an island called California. #RespectHispanicHeritage

This expedition founded the San Bruno Mission, which would be the first in California and the first founded by Father Eusebio Chini, known as Kino. However, lack of supplies caused the Spanish to abandon the area. #RespectHispanicHeritage
Photo by Fringio.

This did not discourage Kino, who, while establishing new missions between the present states of California and Arizona, found the isthmus linking the California peninsula to the North American mainland. #RespectHispanicHeritage

If you want to know more about the early days of the exploration of California, we encourage you to read the story of Padre Kino that you will find in this post: hispaniccouncil.org/eusebio-chini-… #RespectHispanicHeritage