Jacinto Caamaño facts for kids
Jacinto Caamaño Moraleja (1759–September 8, 1829) was a Spanish explorer. He led one of the last big Spanish trips to explore the coasts of Alaska and British Columbia. At that time, Alaska was known as Russian America. He was also a knight in a special group called the Military Order of Calatrava.
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Early Life of Jacinto Caamaño
Jacinto Caamaño was born in Madrid, Spain. His family was from a noble (important and wealthy) background in Galicia, near Santiago de Compostela. His father was Juan Fernández de Caamaño, and his mother was Mariana Moraleja Alocen.
He joined the Spanish Navy when he was 18 years old. Just two years later, he became an Ensign, which is a junior officer rank.
Caamaño's Explorations
A few years later, Caamaño joined a special trip to Constantinople (now Istanbul). The goal was to start trade with countries like Turkey, Poland, and Russia.
After a quick trip to Cuba in 1787, he was chosen by Juan Francisco de la Bodega y Quadra for an important mission. He was to go to the Pacific Coast of Mexico. This area had a naval base called San Blas, which was the main place for exploring the Pacific Northwest. At this time, Caamaño was a Frigate Lieutenant.
His brother-in-law, Francisco de Eliza, also went on this trip. Francisco de Eliza later became the Governor of Fort San Miguel on Vancouver Island's Nootka Sound. The new Viceroy of New Spain (a high-ranking Spanish official), Don Juan Vicente de Güemes, 2nd Count of Revillagigedo, was also on their ship to Mexico.
On February 3, 1790, Caamaño took part in an expedition to the Pacific Northwest. He was in charge of a ship called the Nuestra Señora del Rosario (also known as the La Princesa). This was a 189-ton frigate, a type of warship, built for exploration. On this trip, he only went as far as Nootka.
His next voyage was in 1792. This time, he sailed as far as Bucareli Bay. He was commanding the frigate Aránzazu, which was a smaller warship called a corvette. By then, he had been promoted to Ship Lieutenant.
This 1792 expedition carefully studied the coast from Bucareli to Nootka. Caamaño's team marked many places on the map of Alaska and British Columbia with names that are still used today.
- He left Nootka on June 13, 1792.
- He explored Bucareli Bay, which is off Prince of Wales Island, Alaska.
- He anchored in Dixon Entrance on July 20.
- Then, he explored southward, sailing through Principe Channel, Nepean Sound, and Whale Sound.
- He also explored near the Estevan Group archipelago, then went into Caamaño Sound.
- He continued south through Laredo Channel, between Aristazabal Island and Princess Royal Island.
- He returned to Nootka on September 7, 1792.
Caamaño named several places himself. These include Principe Channel, Laredo Channel, Campania Island, Campania Sound, Aristazabal Island, Gil Island, and Gravina Island (named after Federico Gravina). Later, another famous explorer, George Vancouver, used these names on his own maps.
Later Life and Family
After successfully finishing his trip to Alaska, Caamaño was sent across the Pacific Ocean to the Philippines. This happened after a short stay in San Blas.
From 1794 to 1807, he worked in different places between Mexico and Peru. During one of these trips, he married Francisca de Arteta Santistevan, who was from Ecuador. They had eight children together.
In 1820, he was still living in Guayaquil, Ecuador, where his youngest daughter was born. We don't know the exact date or place of his death, but it was in Guayaquil on September 8, 1829.
Some of his family members, the Caamaño family, became very important in Ecuador's history. His grandson, José Plácido Caamaño, even became the president of Ecuador. Other notable descendants include his great-grandson, Jacinto Jijón y Caamaño, who was a historian and politician, and another great-grandson, the poet Ernesto Noboa y Caamaño.
Legacy of Jacinto Caamaño
Many places are named to honor Jacinto Caamaño and his explorations.
- Camano Island, an island in Puget Sound in the United States, is named after him.
- Caamaño Sound in British Columbia, Canada, also carries his name.
- On the northern edge of Caamaño Sound, there is an island called Jacinto Island.
- Other Spanish names in the area near Caamaño Sound include Campania Sound, Estevan Point (named by Juan José Pérez Hernández), and Aristazabal Island.
- Caamaño Passage, located northwest of Prince Rupert (between Dundas and Zayas Islands), is also named for him.
See also
In Spanish: Jacinto Caamaño para niños
