José Antonio de la Guerra y Noriega (March 6, 1779 – February 18, 1858) was a
Californio
Californio (plural Californios) is a term used to designate a Hispanic Californian, especially those descended from Spanish and Mexican settlers of the 17th through 19th centuries. California's Spanish-speaking community has resided there sinc ...
military officer, ranchero, and founder of the prominent
Guerra family of California. He served as the Commandant of the
Presidio of Santa Barbara
A presidio ( en, jail, fortification) was a fortified base established by the Spanish Empire around between 16th century, 16th and 18th century, 18th centuries in areas in condition of their control or influence. The presidios of Captaincy Genera ...
and the
Presidio of San Diego
El Presidio Real de San Diego (Royal Presidio of San Diego) is a historic fort in San Diego, California. It was established on May 14, 1769, by Gaspar de Portolá, leader of the first European land exploration of Alta California—at that time an ...
.
Biography
José de la Guerra was born 1779 at Novales,
Cantabria
Cantabria (, also , , Cantabrian: ) is an autonomous community in northern Spain with Santander as its capital city. It is called a ''comunidad histórica'', a historic community, in its current Statute of Autonomy. It is bordered on the east ...
,
Spain
, image_flag = Bandera de España.svg
, image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg
, national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond")
, national_anthem = (English: "Royal March")
, i ...
. As a boy he wished to be a war leader . When he was 13 De La Guerra went to
Mexico City
Mexico City ( es, link=no, Ciudad de México, ; abbr.: CDMX; Nahuatl: ''Altepetl Mexico'') is the capital and largest city of Mexico, and the most populous city in North America. One of the world's alpha cities, it is located in the Valley o ...
in
Colonial Mexico
Colonial or The Colonial may refer to:
* Colonial, of, relating to, or characteristic of a colony or colony (biology)
Architecture
* American colonial architecture
* French Colonial
* Spanish Colonial architecture
Automobiles
* Colonial (1920 au ...
,
New Spain
New Spain, officially the Viceroyalty of New Spain ( es, Virreinato de Nueva España, ), or Kingdom of New Spain, was an integral territorial entity of the Spanish Empire, established by Habsburg Spain during the Spanish colonization of the Am ...
, to live with his maternal uncle Pedro Gonzales de Noriega, a wealthy merchant.
De La Guerra joined the frontier army in 1793, working for the paymaster general. He was appointed a cadet in 1798 at the
Presidio of San Diego
El Presidio Real de San Diego (Royal Presidio of San Diego) is a historic fort in San Diego, California. It was established on May 14, 1769, by Gaspar de Portolá, leader of the first European land exploration of Alta California—at that time an ...
in
Alta California
Alta California ('Upper California'), also known as ('New California') among other names, was a province of New Spain, formally established in 1804. Along with the Baja California peninsula, it had previously comprised the province of , but ...
. He was promoted to ''alférez'' (ensign) at the
Presidio of Monterey
The Presidio of Monterey (POM), located in Monterey, California, is an active US Army installation with historic ties to the Spanish colonial era. Currently, it is the home of the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center (DLI-FLC) ...
in 1800, and was its acting Commandant in 1804. In 1806 he was made lieutenant at the
Presidio of Santa Barbara
A presidio ( en, jail, fortification) was a fortified base established by the Spanish Empire around between 16th century, 16th and 18th century, 18th centuries in areas in condition of their control or influence. The presidios of Captaincy Genera ...
. From 1807 to 1815 he was lieutenant at the
Presidio of San Diego
El Presidio Real de San Diego (Royal Presidio of San Diego) is a historic fort in San Diego, California. It was established on May 14, 1769, by Gaspar de Portolá, leader of the first European land exploration of Alta California—at that time an ...
, and was, for a short time during 1806–1807 the
commandant
Commandant ( or ) is a title often given to the officer in charge of a military (or other uniformed service) training establishment or academy. This usage is common in English-speaking nations. In some countries it may be a military or police ran ...
.
From 1815, De La Guerra served at Santa Barbara, becoming captain in 1817. He became Commandant in 1827, succeeding
José Darío Argüello
José Darío Argüello (1753–1828) was a Querétaro-born Californio politician, soldier, and ranchero. He served as interim Governor of Alta California and then a term as Governor of Baja California.
Biography
José Darío Argüello was born ...
, who was promoted to Governor of
Alta California
Alta California ('Upper California'), also known as ('New California') among other names, was a province of New Spain, formally established in 1804. Along with the Baja California peninsula, it had previously comprised the province of , but ...
. De La Guerra also became a Deputy (''diputado'') to the Mexican National Congress in 1827. De La Guerra served as Commandant until 1842, when he retired after 52 years of service in the army. De La Guerra was a
Californio
Californio (plural Californios) is a term used to designate a Hispanic Californian, especially those descended from Spanish and Mexican settlers of the 17th through 19th centuries. California's Spanish-speaking community has resided there sinc ...
popularly known as ''El Capitán''.
From land grants and purchases, De La Guerra became owner of over 1/2 million acres (2000 km
2) in present
Santa Barbara,
Ventura,
Marin
Marin (French) or Marín (Spanish "sailor") may refer to:
People
* Marin (name), including a list of persons with the given name or surname
* MaRin, in-game name of professional South Korean ''League of Legends'' player Jang Gyeong-hwan (born 19 ...
, and
Sacramento
)
, image_map = Sacramento County California Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Sacramento Highlighted.svg
, mapsize = 250x200px
, map_caption = Location within Sacramento ...
counties, California. These include
Rancho Simi
Rancho Simi, also known as Rancho San José de Nuestra Señora de Altagracia y Simí, was a Spanish land grant in what is now eastern Ventura and western Los Angeles counties granted in 1795 to Santiago Pico, founder of the Pico family of Cal ...
,
Rancho Las Posas
Rancho Las Posas was a Mexican land grant in present-day Ventura County, California. It was given in 1834 by Governor José Figueroa to José Antonio Carrillo.
Geography
The grant extends along the Arroyo Simi (river) in the western Simi Valle ...
,
Rancho San Julian Rancho San Julian was a Mexican land grant and present-day ranch in present-day Santa Barbara County, California given in 1837 by Governor Juan B. Alvarado to José de la Guerra y Noriega. The grant name probably refers to José Antonio Julian de ...
,
Rancho Los Alamos
Rancho Los Álamos was a Ranchos of California, Mexican land grant in present-day Santa Barbara County, California given in 1839 by Governor Juan Bautista Alvarado, Juan Alvarado to José Antonio de la Guerra, a son of José de la Guerra y Nor ...
and
Rancho El Conejo
Rancho El Conejo was a Spanish land grant in California given in 1803 to Jose Polanco and Ygnacio Rodriguez that encompassed the area now known as the Conejo Valley in southeastern Ventura and northwestern Los Angeles Counties. ''El Conejo'' is ...
.
De La Guerra married María Antonia Carrillo (January 8, 1786 - December 26, 1843), daughter of
José Raimundo Carrillo Captain José Raimundo Carrillo (1749–1809) was Californio soldier and settler, known as an early settler of San Diego, California and as the founder of the Carrillo family of California.
Biography
Carrillo was born in 1749 in New Spain (p ...
, on May 16, 1804. They had seven sons (Jose Antonio, Juan, Francisco,
Pablo
Pablo is a Spanish form of the name Paul.
People
* Pablo Alborán, Spanish singer
*Pablo Aimar, Argentine footballer
*Pablo Armero, Colombian footballer
* Pablo Bartholomew, Indian photojournalist
*Pablo Brandán, Argentine footballer
* Pablo Bren ...
, Joaquin, Miguel, and
Antonio Maria) and four daughters (Teresa,
Angustias, Anita, and María Antonia).
De La Guerra Family
De La Guerra died in 1858 and is buried in the church crypt at Mission Santa Barbara
Mission Santa Barbara ( es, link=no, Misión de Santa Bárbara) is a Spanish mission in Santa Barbara, California. Often referred to as the ‘Queen of the Missions,’ it was founded by Padre Fermín Lasuén for the Franciscan order on December ...
with his wife. His house, called the Casa de la Guerra, still stands and is a historic landmark of downtown Santa Barbara.
See also
* Casa de la Guerra
**Pablo de la Guerra
Pablo de la Guerra (29 November 1819 – 5 February 1874) was a Californio politician, judge, and signer of the Californian Constitution in 1849. He served as acting Lieutenant Governor of California and as a member of the California Senate ...
**Antonio Maria de la Guerra
Antonio is a masculine given name of Etruscan origin deriving from the root name Antonius. It is a common name among Romance language-speaking populations as well as the Balkans and Lusophone Africa. It has been among the top 400 most popular male ...
** Alfred Robinson - ''Anita de la Guerra de Noriega y Carrillo''
*Ranchos of California
The Spanish and Mexican governments made many concessions and land grants in Alta California (now known as California) and Baja California from 1775 to 1846. The Spanish Concessions of land were made to retired soldiers as an inducement for ...
**List of Ranchos of California
These California land grants were made by Spanish (1784–1821) and Mexican (1822–1846) authorities of Las Californias and Alta California to private individuals before California became part of the United States of America.Shumway, Burgess M ...
Further reading
* Fr. Joseph A. Thompson. ''El Gran Capitan, José De la Guerra'', (Franciscan Fathers of California, Cabrera & Sons, Los Angeles, 1961)
* De La Guerra Family Papers, Huntington Library, San Marino, California
Narriative of daughter Teresa de La Guerra de Hartnell, 1875
* Dana, Richard Henry, Jr. "Two Years Before the Mast"
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Guerra y Noriega, Jose de la
1779 births
1858 deaths
Californios
People of Alta California
Mexican California
People from Santa Barbara, California
Land owners from California
Military personnel from California
Military personnel from Cantabria
Spanish emigrants to Mexico
Santa Barbara, California