Juan José Pérez Hernández

Juan José Pérez Hernández ( * Joan Peres, 1725 in Palma de Mallorca, † November 3, 1775; frequently Juan Pérez ) was a Spanish navigator and explorer. His journeys led among others to the present-day Philippines and the Pacific Northwest of North America. He was the first discoverer of the coasts of Oregon, Washington and British Columbia, where he made ethnographic records.

Cruises in the South Pacific, colonization of California

Pérez Hernández first drove on different ships between South America and the Philippines. In 1768 he was stationed as an ensign ( alférez ) in San Blas on the Mexican Pacific coast. From there, the Viceroy planned the colonization of California ( Alta California). The next year, Perez brought the first settlers to San Diego and Monterey.

First trip

During this time, Russian fur traders in Alaska had set, which first saw itself obliged to Spain to document his claim to the Pacific areas. So Perez received late in 1773 by the viceroy of New Spain, Antonio María Bucareli y Ursua, commissioned to explore the never claimed by Spaniards areas and push forward it to 60 ° north latitude. He should treat the indigenous people living there with respect, and establish friendly relations with them. At the same time he should report possible Russian settlements. Apparently, Perez was awarded the contract only because in the little popular San Blas he was the highest-ranking officer.

Perez recruited for his ship, the Santiago, predominantly Mexican sailors, and left San Blas on January 25. From Monterey he sailed in June farther north. In July 1774 the ship reached Langara Iceland, one of the Queen Charlotte Islands, but he did not dare to come into direct contact with the local Haida. Nevertheless, it came to the exchange of copper and furs.

Although he had achieved so not 60 °, but only 54 ° 40 ', the poor health of his crew and food shortages, especially but the weather forced him to turn back. Fray Juan Crespi and Fray Tomás de la Peña Suria (or Savaria ), who belonged to Perez team, produced drawings, wherein Suria drew some Tlingit Indians.

On the way back he reached on August 7, Nootka Sound, an island-studded bay on the west coast of Vancouver Iceland, which he called Surgidero de San Lorenzo. Here he succeeded for the first time contact with the Mowachaht resident. His second officer Esteban José Martínez were stolen silver spoon, on this occasion, the James Cook four years later served to demonstrate that already had been in the area Spaniards. However, he was not even here on land, especially as a storm brought his ship almost capsized. In addition, the team suffered increasingly from scurvy.

Further south he reached the coast of the State of Washington and later called the snowy Mount Olympus Cerro Nevada de Santa Rosalia ( snowy peaks of the St. Rosalie ). Finally, he sailed to Monterey, which he reached on 28 August, and finally back to San Blas on November 5.

Second trip

Bucareli was with the poor exploration results not satisfied, and not even with the few contacts that had been established. Madrid demanded but to take formal possession of the territory and therefore sent a new group of officers.

Under the command of Bruno de Heceta and Juan Francisco de la Bodega y Quadra Perez sailed as pilot on Hecetas ship, the Santiago. Apparently he had not yet recovered from the first trip and became deathly ill. On 3 November, he died on the way to Monterey in the Pacific, where he was buried at sea.

The ship on which he had gone, probably carried the smallpox on board, which triggered a devastating epidemic among coastal Salish and their neighbors.