Luis Antonio Argüello

1784–1830 (age 46)

military officer

Biography

Luis Antonio Argüello, born at Mission San Francisco de Asís, entered the military like his father and rose through the ranks, becoming a steady presence at the presidio during a time of sweeping change.

After Mexican independence he served as the first California-born governor of Alta California, guiding the territory with measured judgment, upholding the missions, and tempering local tensions with both firmness and respect.