Manuel Micheltorena


Joseph Manuel María Joaquin Micheltorena y Llano was a brigadier general of the Mexican Army, adjutant-general of the same, governor, commandant-general and inspector of the department of Alta California, then within Mexico. Micheltorena was the last non-Californian Mexican governor before Californian native son Pío Pico took office.

Family

Micheltorena was born in 1804 in Oaxaca de Juárez, Oaxaca, Mexico, into a prominent Basque family. His parents were Army Captain Joseph Eusebio Micheltorena, and Catarina Gertrudis Llano. He was baptized at five days old at Oaxaca Cathedral. His grandparents were Joseph de Micheltorena and María Encarnación de Herrera, and Joseph Augustín de Llano and María Romero.

Career

Micheltorena was appointed governor of California by Mexican President Antonio López de Santa Anna and served from 30 December 1842, until his ouster in 1845.
Micheltorena continued previous governors' policy of large land grants. He faced criticism, opposition, and eventually rebellion by the Californios who wanted local-born governors.
Micheltorena brought with him from Mexico a group of soldiers that included criminals, and who were derisively referred to by some as cholos, to enforce his policies. Micheltorena was defeated at the 1845 Battle of Providencia, left California, and was succeeded by Pio Pico as governor.