Joan Perez discoveries.

Joan Josep Pérez Hernández, born in Majorca by the year 1725, and died at sea in the vicinity of San Blas on November 3rd, 1775, served the Spanish Navy as a pilot on the route between the Americas and the Philippines,

In 1768 he was appointed lieutenant and assigned to the ship San Antonio in order to explore the high California, left San Lucas in February  and came to San Diego in April 1769.

Image of the frigate Santiago, Langara Island near the Haida tribal canoes. Canadian Museum of Civilization Corporation, George Miller © 1997.

The Spanish wanted to discover the Northwest Passage through the Strait of Anian, that had been first discovered by Lorenzo Ferrer Maldonado in 1588 and by Juan de Fuca, also called Apostolis Phokas Ioannis Valerianos in 1592.

The first explorers of the American coast in the Pacific Ocean,  were Chinese junks and also possibly Japanese fishermen.

Joan Josep Perez was the first European to see the coast of British Columbia, in 1773 the Viceroy of Mexico,  Antonio Maria Bucarelli Ursua ordered to sail to Monterey aboard the ship "Santiago" (also called "Nueva Galicia") a three-masted frigate of 25 meters in length and 225 tons, one of the largest built in the shipyards of San Blas (near today's Puerto Vallarta) on the mexican coast, the second officer was Juan Jose Martinez, the ship was also blessed by the Mallorcan Fray Junipero Serra.

On 24th January 1774, they stopped twenty-five days for repairs in San Diego,  and arrived at Monterey on May 8th, 1774, Fray Junipero stayed in Monterrey, continued as priests of the Catalan expedition Fray Juan Crespi and Fray Tomas de la Peña.

They left the port of San Carlos in Monterey on June 3rd, 1774, after losing sight of the shore opened the statement with the instructions of Virrei Bucarelli, orders were reaching the 60th parallel north, which is at the height of the peninsula Kenai south of Anchorage, record all the places where can install ports and colonies and take possession in the name of Spain.

For 30 days sailed north through the rain and fog until the parallel 52, which jumped to the ground near three islands that gave them the name of Santa Margarita,  now known as Queen Charlotte Islands, and gave the name at the entrance of Juan Perez, today known as Dixon entrance.


Ver English Juan Perez en un mapa más grande

On 22 July they came at 55 º 17' and discovering the port of Bucarelli.

On August 6th, landed on Vancouver Island and came in to contact with the Haida tribe, with whom they exchanged several tools for furs, among the things that stayed the Indians had two tablespoons of the second officer José Martinez, spoons later were found by Admiral Cook and served to confirm the arrival to these shores of Majorcan sailor.

On his journey along the Pacific coast, arrived at Nootka Sound, called the mount Olympus cerro Nevado de Santa Rosalia, covered the coasts of California, Oregon, Washington and Canada, described the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the North Pacific coast, arrived back in Monterrey on August 27th, 1775.

The Spanish authorities were unhappy with the issue, because Perez had not reached 60 degrees north and had not established any colonies.

It was organized a second expedition with three ships, the Sonora (also called Felicidad) in command of Juan Francisco de la Bodega  Quadra, the Santiago was in charge of Bruno de Heceta, and San Carlos  that  only had to accompany the others to Monterey.

On this expedition Joan Josep Perez Hernandez was the pilot of frigate Santiago at Heceta orders, left San Blas on March 16th, 1775, after a stop in Monterrey, heading north, discovered the mouth of the Columbia river, and the island called now Prince of Wales, as well as a mountain which they called San Jacinto, discovered "cabo Engaño" now cape Cook, farther north they saw Guadalupe Bay now Port Mary, landed at the "puerto de los Remedios" (near Cross spund) south of Bucarelli, and also  saw the islands of "San Blas", "Santa Margarita", "Santa Cristina", "Santa Magdalena" and "San Agustin".

On June 11th anchored at a port which they name the Holy Trinity, a week later on 19th hoisted the anchor, and on July 13th, they arrived at 47 º 20'.

On the 12th of August reached 49 º 30', two days later on 14th,  arrived to Point Gray, now know Vancouver.

In a small island south of Cape Alava, were attacked by Indians who killed some sailors who had landed on earth to collect firewood, this action discourages Heceta that decided to return, while Bodega  Quadra continued toward the north, Perez on board the Santiago went back to Monterrey where he arrived on October. In November one, sailed to San Blas, and died at sea on November 3rd, 1775, his body was thrown to the sea.

Other explorers such as Cook or Vancouver, were more notoriety in the North Pacific, but Joan Josep Perez Hernandez was the first of the europeans explorers, later was followed by Salvador Fidalgo Lopegarcia who founded the city of Cordova on the coast of Alaska and Pere Alberni from first "Companyia Franca de Voluntaris Catalans", who spent the hard Canadian winters in San Miguel Bay in Nootka sound.