Sebastião Rodrigues Soromenho facts for kids

Sebastião Rodrigues Soromenho (also known as Sebastián Rodríguez Cermeño in Spanish) was a Portuguese explorer. He was born around 1560 in Sesimbra, Portugal, and passed away in 1602. King Philip I of Portugal (who was also Philip II of Spain) asked him to explore and map the coast of California between 1595 and 1596. His mission was to create maps of the American west coast and find the best sea routes across the Pacific Ocean in the 16th century.

Early Life of Soromenho

We don't know much about Soromenho's early life. It's thought that he might be the same Sebastian Rodrigues who worked as a pilot on a ship called the Santa Ana. This ship was a "Manila Galleon," which was a large Spanish trading ship. In 1587, the Santa Ana was captured by an English explorer named Thomas Cavendish during his journey around the world. Soromenho was known to have owned a ship that weighed about 200 tons.

The Great Voyage

Soromenho was chosen to be the captain of another Manila Galleon called the San Agustin. This ship was sent from the Philippines to explore the coast of what is now Oregon and California. After mapping the coast, it was supposed to finish its trip in Acapulco, Mexico. The San Agustin was a large ship, weighing about 200 tons, and it carried 130 tons of goods. Soromenho was picked as captain because he was a very skilled navigator.

Journey to California

On July 5, 1595, the San Agustin left Manila. It carried its cargo, some passengers, and soldiers. On November 4, 1595, the ship reached the coast of California, between Point St. George and Trinidad Head. Soromenho then sailed south along the coast to a place called Drakes Bay, where he anchored on November 7.

Native Americans living there greeted Soromenho and his crew. Their welcome was similar to how they had greeted Francis Drake 16 years earlier. However, this time, the Native Americans seemed less afraid and more open.

Shipwreck and Rescue

In late November, while the San Agustin was anchored, a big storm hit from the south or southwest. The ship's anchor couldn't hold, and the ship sank. Sadly, several people died (between seven and twelve, according to different reports). All the valuable goods, mostly silk, wax, and porcelain, were lost.

Luckily, the crew had brought parts for a smaller boat, called a "launch," from the Philippines. They quickly finished building this boat, which they named the San Buenaventura. On December 8, nearly 80 people sailed away in this new boat. They tried to find the fastest way south and accidentally missed seeing San Francisco Bay. Finally, on January 17, 1596, they arrived safely at Puerto de Chacala, Mexico.

See also

In Spanish: Sebastián Rodriguez Cermeño para niños