Dionisio Alcalá Galiano facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dionisio Alcalá Galiano
|
|
|---|---|
_-_An%C3%B3nimo.jpg) |
|
| Born | 8 October 1760 |
| Died | 21 October 1805 (aged 45) Cape of Trafalgar, Spain
|
| Occupation |
|
Dionisio Alcalá Galiano (born October 8, 1760 – died October 21, 1805) was an important Spanish naval officer. He was also a skilled mapmaker and explorer. He created very accurate maps of coastlines in Europe and the Americas. He used new tools like chronometers to do this.
Galiano led an expedition that explored and mapped the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the Strait of Georgia. His team was the first European group to sail all the way around Vancouver Island. He rose to the rank of brigadier in the navy. Sadly, he died during the famous Battle of Trafalgar. Sometimes he used his full name, Alcalá-Galiano. But he was often known simply as Galiano.
Contents
Dionisio Galiano was born in Cabra, Spain, in 1760. He joined the Spanish navy when he was just 11 years old in 1771. Four years later, in 1775, he started at the Spanish naval school. After finishing his studies in 1779, he began active service.
Learning to Map the Seas
As a young officer, Galiano took part in many surveys that mapped water areas. This helped him become very good at mapmaking. He spent time in the River Plate region and the Falkland Islands. He returned to Spain in 1783.
In 1784, Galiano met Alessandro Malaspina. Malaspina was another important explorer. Both men studied astronomy at the Royal Observatory in Cádiz. Galiano then helped Admiral Vicente Tofiño create a large map book. This book was called the Atlas Maritímo de España. It was published in 1789. This work made Galiano an expert mapmaker.
In 1785, Galiano married María de la Consolación Villavicencio. Soon after, he left to map the Strait of Magellan. In 1788, he led a mission to find the exact location of the Azores islands.
Joining the Malaspina Expedition
Mapping Coasts in the Americas
In 1789, Galiano was chosen for Malaspina's big scientific journey. He worked on the expedition's second ship, the Atrevida. On this journey, Galiano helped map the coast of Patagonia. He also mapped most of the Pacific coast from southern Chile to Mexico. He did many scientific tasks too. These included studying stars and measuring gravity.
The expedition arrived in Acapulco, Mexico, in March 1791. Galiano was asked to stay in Mexico for a year. His job was to gather all the scientific notes and maps from the expedition. He also looked through old records to learn about the state of the colony. This was a political task for the Malaspina expedition. Galiano spent about a year doing this work.
Exploring the Pacific Northwest (1792)
The Voyage of the Sutil and Mexicana
Malaspina had sailed to Alaska to see if a rumored Northwest Passage existed. He found no passage there. When he returned to Mexico, he learned about a large body of water. This water was beyond the eastern end of the Strait of Juan de Fuca. It was the Strait of Georgia. Malaspina decided that Galiano should explore it.
Galiano was given command of the ship Sutil. Another officer, Cayetano Valdés, commanded the Mexicana. These ships were called "goletas" by the Spanish. They were like small sailing ships, rigged as a brig and a schooner. The expedition left Acapulco on March 8, 1792.
Visiting Nootka Sound
On May 13, Galiano and Valdés reached the Spanish base at Nootka Sound. Juan Francisco de la Bodega y Quadra was there. He was talking with George Vancouver about an agreement between Britain and Spain. Galiano and Valdés stayed at Nootka Sound for about a month. Their ships were repaired and restocked.
Galiano noticed that the Nuu-chah-nulth people were friendly again. He wrote about their social system. He also mentioned that some native groups had many firearms. They wanted gunpowder for trade.
Exploring the Strait of Juan de Fuca
Galiano and Valdés left Nootka Sound on June 5. They entered the Strait of Juan de Fuca. They reached Neah Bay the next day. A Spanish base was being set up there. The Makah people were friendly. Their chief, Tetacus, was very curious about the Spanish ships. He even joined the Spanish for part of their journey.
Galiano wanted to quickly sail north into the Strait of Georgia. He had maps from earlier Spanish explorations. He did not explore Puget Sound because his main goal was to find a passage to the east.
The Sutil and Mexicana left Neah Bay on June 8. They sailed along the coast of Vancouver Island. They stopped at Esquimalt Harbour. Tetacus helped them find a good place for water. Galiano was impressed by Tetacus. He knew the names of many Spanish and British captains. He also knew the native names for many places.
On June 9, the Spanish anchored in Esquimalt Harbour. Tetacus's wives joined him there. The Spanish officers visited the villages on shore. An artist with the expedition, José Cardero, drew pictures of Tetacus and his wives.
Meeting George Vancouver
On June 13, near Point Roberts, the Spanish ships met a British ship. It was the HMS Chatham, part of George Vancouver's expedition. On June 21, near present-day Vancouver, British Columbia, Galiano met Vancouver himself. They became friends. They agreed to help each other by sharing maps and dividing the survey work.
They worked together until July 13. Then, each expedition continued separately. Galiano's ships sailed north around Vancouver Island. This proved that it was an island. They reached Nootka Sound on August 31, completing their journey around the island. Vancouver's ships had arrived earlier.
Galiano and his crew were the first Europeans to sail all the way around Vancouver Island. They were also the first Europeans to find and enter the Fraser River on June 14, 1792.
Galiano also looked for the mouth of the Columbia River. He learned that Robert Gray had already entered it. Galiano saw the Columbia River on September 8, 1792. He did not enter it himself. But he confirmed its location and that it was a river, not a strait.
Galiano returned to Mexico in late 1792. He started writing about his explorations. His report was published in 1802. This was unusual because Spain usually kept its exploration results secret.
Later Career and Legacy
Return to Spain and New Honors
After Galiano returned to Spain in 1794, he was made a member of the Order of Alcántara. This was a special honor given by the king.
Galiano helped prepare a huge report about Malaspina's expedition. This report was meant to be as grand as those about James Cook's voyages. But Malaspina faced political trouble. He was arrested and imprisoned. Because of this, almost all documents from his expedition were hidden. Publishing them was forbidden.
So, Galiano's account of his own exploration, published in 1802, became the only Spanish report about the Pacific Northwest for many years. Galiano's name became well-known for Spanish exploration in that area.
Galiano continued his work as a mapmaker. Then, he returned to active duty when war broke out with Britain. He was careful to stay away from Malaspina's political problems. In 1797, he commanded the frigate Vencedor during the Battle of Cape St Vincent.
In 1798, Galiano sailed to America to bring treasure back to Spain. This money was needed for the war. He managed to avoid British ships and bad weather. He brought silver and other valuables safely back to Spain. He made a second treasure voyage as well.
In December 1804, war started again between Spain and Britain. Galiano, now a brigadier, commanded the 76-gun ship Bahama. He fought bravely in the Battle of Trafalgar. Sadly, he was killed by a cannonball on October 21, 1805. His body was buried at sea from his damaged ship.
Places Named After Galiano
Many places are named after Dionisio Alcalá Galiano. Galiano Island in the Strait of Georgia is named for him. So are Alcala Point and Dionisio Point on that island. The highest point on the island, Mt Galiano, is also named after him. A hiking trail there is called the Dionisio Galiano trail. Salamanca Point, on Galiano Island, is named for Secundino Salamanca, one of Galiano's officers.
The Canadian warship HMCS Galiano was named for him too. This ship often worked with HMCS Malaspina, named for Galiano's commander. Sutil Channel is named for Galiano's ship, the Sutil. Cape Sutil, at the northern end of Vancouver Island, also shares its name.
Images for kids
-
Jaime Alcalá Galiano, direct descendant of Dionisio Alcalá Galiano, at the Galiano Is. memorial stone now located at the Galiano Museum site.
-
Almudena Alcalá-Galiano with local historian, Andrew Loveridge, at the Dionisio Alcalá-Galiano memorial.
See also
In Spanish: Dionisio Alcalá Galiano para niños
