Ferdinand Konščak facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ferdinand Konščak
Portrait of Ferdinand Konščak
Born	2 December 1703 in Varaždin, Kingdom of Croatia within Habsburg Monarchy
Died	10 September 1759 in San Ignacio, Baja California Sur, Mexico
Church	Mission San Ignacio, Catholic Church in Mexico
Education	Society of Jesus in Trenčín, philosophy in Graz, Jesuit Academy in Zagreb, theology at the University of Graz.
Ordained	~1725
Title	Jesuit priest

Ferdinand Konščak (also known as Fernando Consag) was a Croatian Jesuit priest. He was born on December 2, 1703, and passed away on September 10, 1759. Konščak was a brave explorer, a skilled mapmaker, and a missionary in Mexico. He spent most of his adult life exploring and mapping the Baja California Peninsula.

Early Life and Education

Ferdinand Konščak was born in Varaždin, a city in Croatia. He went to primary and secondary school right there in his hometown. When he was sixteen, he joined the Society of Jesus, also known as the Jesuits. This was in a place called Trencsén, which is now Trenčín in Slovakia.

After two years, he moved to Leoben to study classics, writing styles, and public speaking. Later, he studied philosophy in Graz, Austria. In 1725 and 1726, he taught grammar at the Jesuit Academy in Zagreb, Croatia. The next year, he taught classical studies at a high school in Buda, Hungary. In 1728, Konščak even published a collection of poems in Latin! From 1727 to 1729, he studied theology at the University of Graz.

Life as a Missionary

In 1729, Konščak traveled to Cádiz in Spain. From there, he sailed to North America. He became a missionary in a region called New Spain, which is now part of Mexico. He worked on the Baja California Peninsula from 1732 until he passed away.

His main base was at Mission San Ignacio. From 1748, he was in charge of the mission. Later, in 1758, he became the inspector for all the missions in Baja California. Konščak learned many different dialects of the local Cochimí language. He helped build new missions, water systems, and even the first silver mines. He died at San Ignacio in 1759.

Exploring New Lands

Konščak led three important expeditions to explore parts of the peninsula that no one had mapped before. These journeys happened in 1746, 1751, and 1753.

In 1746, he sailed along the coast of the Gulf of California. People weren't sure if Baja California was an island or connected to the mainland. Konščak followed the coast all the way to the Colorado River. Even though he explored so much, the question of whether it was an island continued for almost 30 more years!

His second trip was a journey by land. He traveled across the peninsula to the Pacific Ocean side. The third expedition went up the western side of the peninsula. He reached an area near Bahía San Luis Gonzaga.

During these trips, Konščak carefully wrote down information about the land, its natural resources, and the local people.

Maps and Writings

Based on all the information he gathered, Konščak created very accurate maps. He made a detailed map of Baja California in 1748. He also made a map of the Gulf of California around 1750.

His maps were very popular and were copied and used by many people. Famous thinkers like Denis Diderot and D'Alembert used his maps in their French encyclopedia. Even Alexander von Humboldt, a famous explorer, used Konščak's maps in his own work.

Konščak's diaries were translated into many languages after he died. They were published by several people during his lifetime. A copy of his manuscript about California from 1761 is kept in the British Museum. His maps and writings are also found in important libraries around the world, including:

• The British Museum in London
• The Library of Congress in Washington
• The John Carter Library in Providence, Rhode Island
• The Honnold-Mudd Library in Claremont, California
• The Huntington Library in San Marino, California

Seven copies of his maps were published by Ernest J. Burrus. Some historians also believe Konščak might have written other important accounts about Baja California.

Legacy

Today, there is a rock formation in the northern Gulf of California named Roca Consag after him. It's located near San Felipe. Konščak mapped many water springs. Because of his work, you can still find shops and businesses in California today that use his name, like "Licores Konsag" (a liquor store and market) and "Konsaqua" (purified water).

Images for kids

• 

  Map of the Gulf of California made by Konščak (approx. 1750)

See also

In Spanish: Fernando Consag para niños