Bruno de Heceta

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Bruno de Heceta (Hezeta) y Dudagoitia (1744-1807) was a Spanish explorer of the Pacific Northwest. Born in Bilbao, he was sent by the viceroy of New Spain, Antonio María Bucareli y Ursúa, to explore the area north of Alta California in response to rumors that there were Russian settlements there.

[edit] Background

The Spanish claim to Alaska and the Pacific Northwest had dated back to a 1493 papal bull (Inter caetera) and rights contained in the 1494 Treaty of Tordesillas; these two formal acts gave Spain the exclusive rights to colonize all of the Western Hemisphere (excluding Brazil), including the exclusive rights to colonize all of the the west coast of North America. The first European expedition to actually reach the west coast of North America was led by the Spaniard Vasco Núñez de Balboa, which achieved the Pacific coast of Panama in 1513. Balboa claimed the Pacific Ocean for the Spanish Crown, as well as the lands touching it, including all of the west coast of North America. This action of Balboa further solidified the Spanish claim of exclusive control over the entire west coast of North America.

Confident of their claims, the Spanish Empire did not explore or settle the northwest coast of North America in the 250 years after Balboa's claim. By the late 1700s, however, learning of Russian Empire and British arrivals along the Pacific coast, Spain finally grew sufficiently concerned about their claims to the Pacific Northwest and set out to learn the extent of the Russian and British encroachment.

[edit] Exploring expedition

A first expedition (with just one ship, a frigate) led by Juan José Pérez Hernández in 1774 did not reach as far north as planned. Thus, when a small group of officials from Spain reached the naval base of San Blas, México, the viceroy placed one of these, Heceta, in charge of a second expedition; this second expedition was to have two ships, including one smaller ship that could explore in shallower waters.

Accompanying Hezeta was the escort and supply ship Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe (generally known as the Señora), initially under the command of Juan Manuel de Ayala. The 37 foot (11 m) schooner and its crew complement of 16 were to perform coastal reconnaissance and mapping, and could make landfall in places the larger Santiago was unable to approach on its previous voyage; in this way, the expedition could officially lay claim to the lands north of Mexico it visited.

The two ships sailed together as far north as Point Grenville, Washington, named Punta de los Martires (or "Point of the Martyrs") by Hezeta in response to an attack by the local Quinault Indians.

He was the first European to sight the mouth of the Columbia River. He initially believed it was the Strait of Juan de Fuca, but then he realized it was a river, naming it Bahía de la Asunción. He attempted to enter the mouth of the river, but it was not possible.

By design, the vessels parted company on the evening of July 30, 1775 with the Santiago continuing to what is today the border between Washington state and Canada. The Señora (now with second officer Juan Francisco de la Bodega y Quadra at the helm) moved up the coast according to its orders, ultimately reaching a position at Latitude 59° North on August 15, entering Sitka Sound near the present-day town of Sitka, Alaska. It is there that the Spaniards performed numerous "acts of sovereignty," naming and claiming Puerto de Bucareli (Bucareli Sound), Puerto de los Remedios, and Mount San Jacinto, renamed Mount Edgecumbe by British explorer James Cook three years later.

Throughout the voyage, the crews of both vessels endured many hardships, including food shortages and scurvy. On September 8, the ships rejoined and headed south for the return trip to San Blas.

Subsequently, Heceta returned to Europe, fighting in various naval battles against France and Great Britain. He died in 1807 with the rank of the lieutenant general.

Heceta Head, on the coast of Oregon, is named after him. It is the location of the Heceta Head Light.

[edit] External links

• Bruno de Heceta from historylink.org