Francisco Palóu

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Francesc Palou
OFM
Born1723
Petra, Mallorca, Spain
Died1789 (aged 65–66)
Mexico City, New Spain
NationalitySpanish
Other namesFrancisco Palóu
OccupationMissionary

Francesc Palou (in

Franciscan Order, Palóu became "Presidente" of the missions in Baja California, and later of missions of Alta California
. Palóu's work in the Spanish mission system spans from his early twenties to his death at the age of 66.

According to biographer Herbert E. Bolton, "Fray Palóu was 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". Palóu is particularly noted for his pious biography of Serra and for his multi-volume early history of the Californias.

Biography

Francesc Palou was born in Petra,

marking the geographical boundary between the two orders' fields. He assisted in the exploration of the site of San Francisco and administered Mission San Francisco de Asís
. When Serra died, Palóu was briefly acting head of the Baja California missions, but soon returned to central Mexico.

Missionary travels

As a missionary of the

Veracruz, New Spain in 1749. Palóu worked in New Spain for many in missions such as Sierra Gorda. He was later recalled, along with Serra, to work in the San Saba region of Texas. However, the biggest part of Palóu's journey would not begin until 1767, when he and fourteen other Franciscan friars were sent north to extend their efforts and replace many of the Jesuit missionaries who had been previously expelled from Spain. Much of Palóu's life would be spent in Alta California
, and many of his notable endeavors occurred there as well.

Alta California missions

Palóu and the other friars reached Loreto in Lower California in the spring of 1768. Palou was given control of

Carmel
), which Serra had been using as his headquarters. Palóu greatly assisted in the placement of friars and recorded historical data, the only surviving account of some aspects of the early California missions.

Expeditionary travel and later career

In 1774, Palóu accompanied Captain Rivera's expedition to the Bay of San Francisco, and on December 4 planted the cross on a hill he named "Lobos" (wolves), which sits in clear view of the Golden Gate and Pacific Ocean. The name lives on as Lobos Creek, within the Presidio of San Francisco.

The Rivera expedition returned to the

Fermín Lasuén, in 1791.[1]

Palou returned to Lobos in 1776 with the

Mission Dolores
, which Palóu founded but a few weeks later. Palóu remained at the new mission until he was called to give his mentor and close friend, Junípero Serra, his last rites in 1784 at Mission San Carlos.

With Serra's death, Palóu became the acting presidente of the Upper California missions until the formal appointment of Lasuén as successor to Serra. Palou remained at Mission San Carlos until failing health and old age led him to retire in 1785 to the missionary College of San Fernando de Mexico. He was elected guardian of the college and held this office until his death in Mexico, where he had completed his biography of Serra,[2] most of which he had written while still in California.

Legacy

Francisco Palóu played many key roles and offices vital to the establishment of several of the missions in California and many of those in Mexico. He compiled a standard history of the California missions from 1767 to 1784 in his "noticias" as a four-volume set. He also wrote of his teacher, Junípero Serra. Both works provide key information about early California and the missionary system established there.

Reproduction of illustration originally published in: Relacion historica de la vida y apostolicas tareas del venerable padre Fray Junipero Serra

Works

Title pages of the first edition of Palou's biography of Junípero Serra
  • 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.

References

  1. ISBN 0-934136-04-1
  2. ^ Palóu's Life of Serra

External links

Catholic Church titles
Preceded by President-General of the Missions of Alta California
1784–1785 		Succeeded by
Fermín Lasuén
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