Island Stories:
Danzig
Mine
Other Stories: Biographies
Order the Book
|
Gonzalo López de Haro bef. 1788 - 1823 |
Gonzalo de Haro was born in Spain but there is very little available about his early life. In 1788 two ships were sent north to investigate Russian activity in Alaska. First Pilot Esteban José Martínez was the expedition commander and captained the frigate Princesa. Haro, also a Pilot, was given command of the packet ship San Carlos. Second Pilot José María Narváez sailed with Haro. The ships arrived at Prince William Sound in May. Haro sailed the San Carlos west to Kodiak Island and on June 30 found the Russian post at Three Saints Bay. The Russian commander, Evstrat Delarov, provided a map of the Alaskan coast and indicated the locations of seven Russian posts containing nearly five hundred men. Delarov also told Narváez that the Russians intended to occupy the port of Nootka Sound, on the west coast of Vancouver Island. Narváez returned to the San Carlos and Haro returned east, rejoining Martínez at Sitkinak Island. Haro and Martínez then sailed southwest to investigate Unalaska Island, where there was a large Russian post under the command of Potap Kuzmich Zaikov. Martínez arrived on July 29 and Haro on August 4. In 1790 and 1791 he was a primer piloto (first pilot) in the expedition commanded by Francisco de Eliza. Haro is reputably the first European to discover the San Juan Islands. In 1821,
after the Mexican War of Independence, Haro was jailed in Puebla, Mexico
where he died in 1823. Haro Strait and Lopez Island are both named after
him. Sources:
|
|
How to order | | About the Author || Links || Home Contact: Copyright ©
Lindsay Elms 2001. All Rights Reserved.
|
|