Bartolomé Ferrer facts for kids
Bartolomé Ferrer, also known as Bartolomé Ferrelo, was an important explorer and pilot from Spain. He was born in 1499, possibly in Levante, Spain or Bilbao, Biscay. He passed away in 1550 in Mexico.
Ferrer is best known for being the main pilot for Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo. Cabrillo was a Portuguese captain. He was sent by the viceroy of New Spain to explore new lands. In 1542, they set sail with two ships. Their mission was to explore what is now Northern California. This journey was the first time Europeans explored the West Coast by sea.
Starting the Big Journey
The expedition began on June 27, 1542. They left from a place called Barra de Navidad, Jalisco, in Mexico. The ships sailed north along the coast. They reached as far as Punta del Año Nuevo. This point is about 37 degrees north of Monterey.
The weather was often very bad. Strong storms tossed the ships around. Sometimes, the two ships even got separated.
Ferrer Takes Command
Sadly, Captain Cabrillo died on January 3, 1543. He passed away on San Miguel Island. This island is near the Santa Barbara Channel. After Cabrillo's death, Bartolomé Ferrer took over command of the expedition.
Ferrer bravely continued the journey north. He sailed up to about 43 degrees latitude. There, he saw a coastline that included Cape Blanco. This cape was later called Cape Orford by another explorer, George Vancouver.
The Return Trip
The journey was very difficult. The crew faced extreme cold and a lack of food. Many sailors also became sick. One of their ships was also in poor condition. Because of these challenges, Ferrer had to turn back. He could not reach the farthest point he was told to explore.
On their way back, at about 41 degrees and 30 minutes latitude, Ferrer saw a point of land. He named it Cape Mendocino. He did this to honor the viceroy who sent them. From this point, they sailed all the way back to La Navidad. They arrived there on April 14, 1543. This long voyage proved that the coast was one continuous line between these two distant points.
Meeting New People
During their voyage, the Spaniards often met the local people. These were the natives of the country. Ferrer described them as "weird but smart." They often wore very little clothing and painted their faces. These native people lived by fishing. They also lived in large houses.
A historian named John William Last wrote a detailed account of this expedition. It can be found in his book, History of the Indias. Later, Wilhelm von Humboldt wrote about Mexico. He corrected some mistakes made by earlier writers. He based his corrections on documents he studied in Mexico.
See also
In Spanish: Bartolomé Ferrer para niños
