This Day in the Yesteryear: EUROPEAN EXPLORER JUAN RODRÍGUEZ CABRILLO DISCOVERS CALIFORNIA (1542)

European Explorer Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo Discovers California (1542)

In 1520, Cabrillo, an explorer in the service of Spain, landed in Mexico and joined in the conquests of Mexico and Guatemala. Some 20 years later, he accompanied an expedition up the west coast of Mexico, assuming its command after the death of its original commander. He then proceeded to explore much of the coast of what is now the state of California, becoming the first European to do so. How far north did he get before complications from a broken bone, possibly gangrene, took his life? More… Discuss

 

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