Francisco Palóu facts for kids
Francesc Palou (born 1723, died 1789) was a Spanish Franciscan missionary, leader, and historian. He worked in what is now Baja California and Alta California (which is now the state of California in the USA).
Palou helped a lot with the mission system in these areas. Missions were like settlements built by Spanish priests to teach Christianity to Native Americans. He worked closely with his teacher, Junípero Serra, to build many missions. Some of these buildings are still standing today!
As a member of the Franciscan Order (a group of Catholic priests), Palou became the "Presidente" (leader) of the missions in Baja California. Later, he led the missions in Alta California too. He worked in the Spanish mission system from his early twenties until he passed away at 66.
A historian named Herbert E. Bolton described Palou as a "diligent student, devout Christian, loyal disciple, tireless traveler, zealous missionary, firm defender of the faith, resourceful pioneer, successful mission builder, able administrator, and fair minded historian of California". Palou is especially known for writing a detailed book about Junípero Serra and for his multi-volume history of California.
Contents
Life Story of Francesc Palou
Francesc Palou was born in Petra, a town on the island of Majorca. He joined the Franciscan Order there. In 1740, he traveled to New Spain (which was a large Spanish colony in the Americas, including parts of modern-day Mexico and the U.S.) with Junípero Serra. He worked as a missionary in the Sierra Gorda region of Mexico.
In 1768, another group of priests called the Jesuits were told to leave Baja California. The Franciscans, led by Serra, were sent to take their place. Palou was sent to a mission called San Javier.
The next year, Serra went north to start new missions in Alta California. Palou then took over as the head of all the missions in Baja California. In 1773, another group of priests, the Dominicans, took control of the Baja California missions. Palou, being a Franciscan, moved to Alta California. He even helped mark the border between the areas where the Franciscans and Dominicans would work.
He helped explore the area where the city of San Francisco is today. He also managed Mission San Francisco de Asís. After Serra died, Palou briefly led the Alta California missions before returning to central Mexico.
Palou's Travels and Mission Work
As a missionary, Palou traveled a lot across the Spanish colonial empire. His many journeys helped him learn a great deal about the world. He was born in 1723 and started his religious work early, joining the Franciscan Order around age seventeen in 1739.
He became a close student and friend of Junípero Serra. Together, they were eager to join the Spanish mission system in Alta California. In 1749, they arrived in Veracruz, New Spain, with several other missionaries. Palou worked in missions in New Spain for many years, including in Sierra Gorda. He was later called to work in the San Saba region of Texas.
However, a big part of Palou's journey began in 1767. He and fourteen other Franciscan friars were sent north to expand their work. They replaced many Jesuit missionaries who had been asked to leave Spain's territories. Palou spent much of his life in Alta California, where he achieved many important things.
Missions in Alta California
Palou and the other friars reached Loreto in Baja California in the spring of 1768. Palou was put in charge of Mission San Francisco Javier. The next year, Junípero Serra left for Alta California to set up more missions there. This meant Palou was in charge of all the missions in Baja California until 1773.
When the Baja California missions were given to the Dominican missionaries, Palou was able to join Serra and the other Franciscans in Alta California. He first went to San Diego. Then, he continued to Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo (which is near present-day Carmel). Serra used this mission as his main base. Palou helped a lot with placing friars (missionary priests) and recording historical information. His records are the only surviving accounts of some parts of the early California missions.
Explorations and Later Years
In 1774, Palou joined an expedition led by Captain Rivera to the Bay of San Francisco. On December 4, he placed a cross on a hill he called "Lobos" (meaning "wolves"). This hill had a clear view of the Golden Gate and the Pacific Ocean. The name "Lobos" is still used today for Lobos Creek, which is inside the Presidio of San Francisco.
The Rivera expedition returned to the Presidio of Monterey by following the coast. This route had first been explored by the Portolà expedition in 1769. At the north end of Monterey Bay, Rivera and Palou looked at the area around today's Santa Cruz. Another friar, Juan Crespí, had suggested this spot for a future mission. Palou agreed, and on December 9, he chose a location where Mission Santa Cruz was later founded in 1791.
Palou returned to Lobos in 1776 with the De Anza expedition. On June 28, he held the first mass at the future site of Mission Dolores. Palou founded this mission just a few weeks later.
Palou stayed at the new mission until 1784. That year, he was called to give his mentor and close friend, Junípero Serra, his last religious rites at Mission San Carlos.
After Serra's death, Palou became the acting leader (presidente) of the Alta California missions. He held this role until Fermín Lasuén was officially appointed as Serra's replacement. Palou remained at Mission San Carlos until his health declined and he became old. In 1785, he retired to the missionary College of San Fernando de Mexico. He was chosen to be the guardian of the college and held this position until he died in Mexico. While in Mexico, he finished writing his important book about Serra, much of which he had started writing while still in California.
Palou's Important Contributions
Francisco Palóu played many important roles in setting up several missions in California and Mexico. He wrote a detailed history of the California missions from 1767 to 1784 in a four-volume set called "noticias." He also wrote a book about his teacher, Junípero Serra. Both of these works provide key information about early California and the mission system that was built there.
Works Written by Palou
- Palou, Francisco. 1926. Historical Memoirs of New California. Edited by Herbert E. Bolton. 4 vols. University of California Press, Berkeley.
- Palou, Francisco. 1955. Life of Fray Junípero Serra. Edited by Maynard J. Geiger. Academy of American Franciscan History, Washington, D.C.
- Palou, Francisco. 1994. Cartas desde la península de California (1768-1773). Edited by José Luis Soto Pérez. Editorial Porrúa, Mexico City.
- Palou, Francisco. Noticias de la Nueva California (Volume II). Translated by Miguel Venegas. California: University Microfilms Inc., 1966.
See also
In Spanish: Francisco Palou para niños
