You can buy the book for $24.95
in the Pacific House and
in the Colton Hall Museum.

Prehistoric Period

General Information

Monterey County

Timeline

65 mil. years ago

Sorry, but there were no dinosaurs roaming what is now California because throughout most of the Mesozoic Era, the Pacific border of North America, from California to Alaska, was submerged. About 65 million years ago, at the end of the Jurassic Period, widespread folding happened along the western border of the North American continent. In California, the Sierra Nevada, and the Coast Ranges were formed during that time.

58 mil. years ago

During the Paleocene Epoch, the Cretaceous inland seas gradually withdrew from central and southwest California.

36 mil. years ago

The Eocene Epoch in California was mainly marked by the submergence of the Central Valley.

25 mil. years ago

During the Oligocene Epoch, California's coast was largely elevated. The archaic mammals of the Paleocene disappeared, the ancestors of today's dogs and cats entered the scene and the brontotherium, the largest mammal to ever live in North America, could be found in California's Death Valley.

13 mil. years ago

At the beginning of the Miocene Epoch, the Central Valley was still submerged. Later in the period, the Coast Ranges were elevating along with the first known movement along the San Andreas fault zone. A distinct cooling of the climate resulted in the reduction of forests and an increase in grassy plains.

2 mil. years ago

In the Pliocene Epoch, the outlines of California were almost the same as in recent time. Volcanic activity continued and at the end of the Epoch, the Sierra Nevada was elevated and tilted to the west. The climate became cooler and drier and foreshadowed the glacial climates of the Pleistocene epoch.

10,000 years ago

The Pleistocene epoch is commonly referred to as "The Great Ice Age." It was not the only glacial period (Ice Age) in Earth's history, but it was the one marking the first appearance of modern humans approximately 500,000 years ago and the migration of humans to the American continents.
The Sierra Nevada encountered a glacial period, but there were no glaciers in the coastal ranges. Here, in what is now Monterey County, the Ice Age was a time of huge amounts of rain fall. It was the time of saber tooth tigers, giant bisons and mammoths. Relics of the ice age still present today are the Monterey Cypress tree and the California Condor.

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Juan Bautista Alvarado
1809 - 1882
Rebel for an independent California and Governor by Mexico's grace

Biographic notes @ Inn-California; Biography @ Famous Americans

Leader of the Californian revolt against Mexican authority in November 1837. Together with Jose Castro, he seized Monterey, and sent the deputy governor home to Mexico. Alvarado then was Governor until governor and Castro as president of the legislature. For two years his jurisdiction was not seriously disputed, but in 1842 the Mexican government sent Manuel Micheltorena to replace him. In 1845, Alvarado and Castro revolted against Micheltorena who surrendered after a battle in which the only casualties were a Mexican Horse and an American Mule. In 1846, Alvarado and Castro joined forces again and engaged John Charles Fremont in the Standoff at Gavilan Peak.
After John Drake Sloat captured Monterey, Alvarado continued to resist, but was captured by American forces in August 1846. He was later offered the post of Secretary of State but declined and never took a public office again.

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Juan Bautista de Anza
1735 - 1788
Pioneer of the Southwest and Founder of San Francisco

Biography @ encyclopedia.com

In 1774, de Anza opened an overland road from Sonora through present-day Arizona to California, reaching San Gabriel and Monterey.
He repeated the 1,200 mile long voyage in 1776. Later, he became governor of New Mexico.
Al Newhart: Marching with Anza

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Hipolito Bouchard
1780 - 1837
Argentine circumnavigator and Privateer

Biography in Spanish language @ Military History of Argentina

Born in France and sailing for the revolutionaries of the La Plata River region of Argentina since 1811, Bouchard was granted Argentine citizenship in 1813. In 1817, he circumnavigated the globe, hunting Spanish merchant ships. In 1818, after leaving Hawaii, he began raiding the coast of Spanish Alta California. In mid-October of 1818, Bouchard anchored in Monterey Bay an landed with 400 men. They ransacked the presidio, took everything they could carry from the homes and left soon after.
Hipolito Bouchard and the Raid of 1818
Book review: The Burning of Monterey

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Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo
?? - 1543
Discoverer of Monterey Bay

San Diego Biographies

In 1542, Cabrillo led the first European expedition to explore what is now the west coast of the United States. He sailed as far north as Oregon, mapped the California coastline and discovered the Channel Islands.
Like most of his men, Cabrillo didn't live to see the end of the journey. His grave has never been found but is believed to be at the Channel Islands.
MCHS: Coastal Navigation and Exploration of the Monterey Bay Area

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Manuel Jose Antonio Cardero

Creator of Monterey's First Picture

Spanish Artist Jose Cardero began his career in 1791 as a cabin boy at Malaspina's expedition and gradually became one of the expedition's most important artists. In September 1791, he did the first drawings of the Monterey Presidio and the Carmel Mission.
In 1792, Cardero visited Monterey again as artist of the Galiano and Valdes expedition. He is most renown for his drawings of Native Americans in British Columbia.
Cardero's pictures appear in countless biographies and articles but I was not able to find any biographical information or a picture of the artist.

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Jose Castro
1810 - 1860
Governor, Rebel and General

For a short time from September 1835 until January 1836, Castro served as Alta California's 7th Mexican Governor. In November 1837, he became one of the leaders of the Californian revolt against Mexican authority. Together with Juan Bautista Alvarado, he seized Monterey, and sent the deputy governor home to Mexico. Independence was formally declared, Alvarado became Governor and Castro became president of the legislature. in 1842 the Mexican government sent Manuel Micheltorena to replace Alvarado as Governor. In 1845, Alvarado and Castro rebeled successfully against Micheltorena who first defeated Castro's forces, but then faceed Alvarado in the Battle of La Providencia and was forced to leave California. In 1846, Castro and Alvarado joined forces again and engaged John Charles Fremont in the Standoff at Gavilan Peak. In 1946, after John Drake Sloat captured Monterey, Castro continued to resist, but eventually had to flee to Mexico.

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Walter Colton
1797 – 1851
Clergyman, Writer and Monterey's first Alcade

Colton, naval chaplain since 1831 stayed in Monterey only for three years, but definitely left a mark. He arrived on July 15, 1846 aboard the Congress, one of Commodore Sloat's vessels. Soon after, on August 15, he launched California's first newspaper, "The Californian" together with Dr. Robert Semple, a frontiersman from Kentucky. Then, he was appointed Monterey's first Alcade (a combination of Mayor, Sheriff Chief Judge.) In this position, he initiated the building of a public school and town meeting hall whic was completed in 1849 and is now Colton Hall. Colton returned to the East Coast in 1849. His book "Three Years in California", published in 1850 is an excellent historical account of his time in Monterey.

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John Rogers Cooper
1797 – 1851
Ship Captain and Trader

Cooper was Thomas Larkin's half brother and related to Alvarado by marriage. He was born in New England, immigrated to California and married into a Mexican family. He traveled extensively as a ship captain, trading in hides, tallow, general merchandise and sea otter pelts.

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Miguel Costanso
?
Military Engineer and Cartographer

Many of the facts we know about Monterey's early days, we know from Miguel Costanso. He wrote the official Diary of the 1769 Portola Expedition and was member of the 1770 expedition. As cartograher, Costanso drew the first map of Monterey Bay and as engeneer, he designed the Monterey Presidio.
Like many other chronists, we know much about the people he wrote about, but only little about himself. So far, I could not find any bigraphic information about him.

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Pedro Fages
1734 - 1794
Second Spanish Governor of Alta California

Biography @ Military Museum

Member of the 1769 Portola expedition which failed to find Monterey Bay and member of the land wing of the 1770 expedition resulting in the founding of the Monterey Presidio on June 3, 1770.
When Portola left Monterey, Fages assumed command as governor from 1770-1774.
MCHS: The Portola Expedition of 1769
MCHS: The Founding of Monterey

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John Charles Fremont
1813 - 1890
Legendary Pathfinder and Terminator of Mexican Rule in California

Biography @ Famous Americans
Short Bio @ US Congress Biographies
Between 1838 and 1840, Fremont conducted two expeditions exploring the Missouri and the Des Moines River. In May 1842, he left Washington, DC, leading an expedition across the Rocky Mountains. He moved on through mostly undiscovered territory all across the Sierra Nevada and arrived at Sutter's fort in Sacramento in May 1844.
In 1845/46 he led another armed expedition into California, arriving in Monterey in March 1846. Alvarado and Castro asked him to leave California immediately and Fremont's refusal led to the standoff at Gavilan Peak. Fremont left for Oregon after that incident, but returned with reinforcements in May, effectively finishing off Spanish control in Northern California. On July 4th, 1846, Northern California's American settlers "elected" him Governor of California. (He never really assumed that post , but was California's Military Governor for a couple of months in 1847.)
When Fremont learned that Comodore Sloat had seized Monterey, he marched to join him and arrived in Monterey in July of 1846.
In later years, Fremont conducted many more expedition into unexplored American territory, represented California in the US Congress in 1850/51, was the first Republican presidential candidate in 1856 , strongly opposing slavery, fought in the civil War and was Governor of Arizona from 1878-81.

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Dionisio Alcala Galiano
1762 - 1805
Spanish Cartographer and Explorer

Biography @ Alexandro Malaspina Research Centre

A cartographer in the Spanish navy since 1784, he went to California in 1789 as member of the Malaspina expedition. In 1792, he and Valdes made a voyage into Vancouver Strait. On their way back to Mexico, they stopped in Monterey.
Galiano died in the battle of Trafalgar.
The Canadian Adventure of a Spanish Naval Hero

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Jean-Francois de Galoup, Comte de La Perouse
1741 - 1788
French Explorer

Biography @ Discoverer's Web; Biography @ Enchanted Learning

La Perouse left France with two ships in 1785 to explore the Pacific Ocean. He first went to Hawaii and then to Alaska. From there, he mapped the coast all the way to Monterey, where he arrived in 1786. Leaving Monterey, he went back to Hawaii, and then explored the East Coast of Asia. Both ships got lost in 1788 on their way from Australia to the Solomon Islands.
La Perouse Bay in Maui, Hawaii, is named for the first French explorer to visit Hawaii.

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David Jacks
1822 - 1909
The man who once bought Monterey

Biography @ Monterey County Historical Society

Born in Scottland, David Jacks came to America in 1841 and to California during the Gold Rush in 1849. Jacks figured that doing business with gold diggers was far more profitable than digging gold himself. Thus - according to family tradition - his first job in Monterey was a clerk in Joseph Boston's store, also known as Casa del Oro. A few years later, in 1855, he actually bought the store.
In 1852, Jacks became Treasurer of Monterey County, but his foremost interest was always the acquisition of real estate. It was the grab of about 30,000 acres of Monterey pueblo land in 1859 for a mere $1002.50 that earned him a place in the history books.
Later, Jack's family donated many of his former properties, amongst them the Pacific House and Casa del Oro, back to the community - along with millions of dollars given to California colleges and universities. Two parks - former Jacks' properties, carry his name: Jacks Peak Regional Park and Don Dahvee Park.

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Thomas ap Catesby Jones
1790 - 1858
Admiral of the Pacific Fleet and
the biggest "Oops" in American naval history

Biography @ CSS Virginia

Jones joined the Navy in 1805 and was Commander of the pacific fleet for a long time. In 1826, he concluded the Treaty between the United States and Hawaii.
On October 19, 1842, convinced that war has broken out between Mexico and the United States, he sailed into Monterey Bay and demanded California's surrender. Monterey surrendered on October 20, but on October 21, Jones realized that there was no war. He raised the Mexican flag again and left. Fortunately, his adventure turned out better than some pre-emptive strikes in the recent past. Nobody was hurt and Jones himself - being relieved of his command soon after the incident - was the only "casualty."
The Occupation of Monterey by Commodore Thomas ap Catesby Jones
book review: Commodore of Manifest Destiny

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Thomas O. Larkin
1802 - 1858
Only U.S. Consul in Monterey

Short Biography @ Monterey County Historical Society

Born in Massachusetts, Thomas Larkin came to California in 1832 and opened a store in Monterey. From 1844-1848, he served as the first and only United States Consul to Mexican ruled Alta California. (He also was on the U.S. government's payroll as a secret spy in 1845-46.) In 1849, Larking was one of the 48 delegates to the Constitutional Convention.

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Alexandro Malaspina
1754 - 1810
Italian Circumnavigator

Biography @ Alexandro Malaspina Research Centre

An Italian commander in the Spanish navy, Malaspino left Spain in July 1789 to circumnavigate the world. He returned to Spain in 1794, having visited Mexico, California (1791), British Columbia, Alaska, the Philippines, New Zealand, Australia, and the Tonga Islands.
America Journeys: The Expedition of 1789-1794

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Felipe de Neve
1724 - 1784
First Governor of the Californias
Founder of Los Angeles

Biography @ Military Museum
Biography @ Handbook of Texas

Fourth governor of Alta California and first to govern both Alta and Baja California (Las Californias) from Monterey. During the five years of his reign (1777-1782), he thoroughly transformed California. He reformed the fundamental law as well as the finances, brought in experienced farmers from Mexico and founded new settlements, amongst them San Jose and Los Angeles. Specially noteworthy are his efforts to prohibit mistreatment of the native population.
It seems like no picture of Felipe de Neve exists. There is only a Statue in Los Angeles showing us what he may have looked like.

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Alexo Nino
?? - 1770
The beginning of Monterey's African American history

The only thing we know about Alexo Nino's life is the day of his death. He was a black Freeman, native to Acapulco and a boat caulker with Father Junipero Serra's 1770 expedition. He died on June 2nd, 1770 onboard the "San Antonio" in the Monterey Bay. He was the first non-Indian to be buried in California and one of the first African Americans to see the Monterey Bay.
We don't know what Alexo Nino looked like. I have used a picture of actor Morgan Freeman from the movie "Amistad" to honor all those who were brought to America against their will.

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Gaspar de Portola
ca. 1723 - ca. 1784
Co-founder of Monterey,
First Governor of Alta California

San Diego Biographies

Led the land parts of the expeditions of 1769 and 1770 resulting in the founding of the Monterey Presidio on June 3, 1770.
MCHS: The Portola Expedition of 1769
MCHS: The Founding of Monterey

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Fernando Rivera y Moncada
1724-1781
Third Governor of Alta California

Biography @ Los Soldados

Member of the 1769 Portola expedition which failed to find Monterey Bay and member of the land wing of the 1770 expedition resulting in the founding of the Monterey Presidio on June 3, 1770.

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Father Junipero Serra
1713 - 1784
Co-founder of Monterey,
Founder of the Alta California Mission System

San Diego Biographies
Inn-California Biographic Notes

Born at the Spanish island Malorca as Miguel Jose Serra, he became a Franciscan priest in 1730 and changed his name to Junipero Serra. In 1749, he came to Mexico as a missionary.
He was named President of all Spanish Missions in Baja California in 1767 and President of all Missions in Alta California in 1796.
In 1769, he was member of the Portola Expedition and established the first Missoin in Alta California - San Diego de Alcala.
In 1770, he led the sea part of the expedition resulting in the founding of the Monterey Presidio on June 3, 1770. Under his presidency, the first nine missions in Alta California were established.
Father Junipero Serra died in Carmel on August 28, 1784, and is buried in the mission there. Though highly regarded as a pioneer, his treatment of the native population makes him a rather controversial figure.
MCHS: The Portola Expedition of 1769
MCHS: The Founding of Monterey

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John Drake Sloat
1781 - 1867
Commander of the Pacific Fleet and Monterey's final conquerer

Biography @ encyclopedia.com; Biography @ Famous Americans

After serving in the US Navy since 1800, participating in the war of 1812 and fighting pirates in the West Indies, Sloat became commander of the Pacific fleet in 1844. In July 1846, soon after war was declared against Mexico, he captured Monterey and declared California "a portion of the United States." Sloat became California's first American Military Governor. He also took San Francisco and held it until relieved by Robert F. Stockton.

Click here to see a picture of Sloat's original declaration.

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Cayetano Valdes y Flores
1767 - 1835
Spanish Hydrographer and Explorer

Biography @ Alexandro Malaspina Research Centre

A navy officer since 1781, Valdes went to California in 1789 as member of the Malaspina expedition. In 1792, he and Galiano made a voyage into Vancouver Strait. On their way back to Mexico, they stopped in Monterey.
See alsoTechnical University Eindhooven.

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George Vancouver
1757 - 1798
British Explorer

Biography @ Discoverer's Web

Vancouver entered the Royal Navy at the age of thirteen and accompanied James Cook on his second and third voyages of discovery (1772-74, 1776-80). In1791 he was put in charge of an expedition to the North-West Coast of America to take over territory, occupied by the Spaniards, to explore the coast northwards, to search for an eastward passage to the Great Lakes and to ascertain the true character of the Juan de Fuca Strait. His expedition left Falmouth in 1791 and proceeded via the Cape of Good Hope to Australia, New Zealand, Tahiti, Hawaii and North America. While surveying the North American coast, he stopped in Monterey in 1792 and 1793.
Vancouver's arrival at North Amerca's Pacific coast marks the beginning of the end of Spain's dominance in this part of the world.

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Tiburcio Vasquez
1839 - 1875
Last Mexican Bandito

Biography @ Historical Society of Southern California

Bandit, gambler and horse thieve Tiburcio Vasquez was born in Monterey as son of a respected family but was in trouble with the law ever since he turned 14. He was executed in 1875 and folklore turned him into some kind of a Californian Robin Hood.
See also Monterey County website.

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Sebastian Vizcaino
ca. 1550 - ca. 1628
Claimed Monterey for Spain

Short Bio @ Enchanted Learning, Picture @ History of La Paz.

Spanish nobleman, explorer and merchant. In 1602, Vizcaino sailed up te coast of California with three ships at the request of King Phillip II of Spain. He named Monterey Bay, San Diego and the Channel Islands. He also sailed to Japan in 1610.
MCHS: Coastal Navigation and Exploration of the Monterey Bay Area
MCHS: Sebastian Vizcaíno's Exploration of Monterey in 1602-1603

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Gaspar de Zuniga y Azevedo, Count of Monte Rey
1540 - 1606
Viceroy of Mexico 1595-1603 and name patron of Monterey

Monterey was named after him by Sebastian Viscaino.

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Volker Moerbitz
1957 -
Permanent Resident of Monterey since 1996

Hopefully, everybody gets the joke

vmoerbitz@kagan.com