Francisco Montoya

Francisco Montoya is a Spanish explorer and trader, known for exploring and establishing Spanish colonies along the California coast. He is most well known for being the first European to set foot in what is now Montoya Wilderness National Park. The park itself is named after him.

Years in Spain
Francisco Montoya was born in Barcelona, Spain in 1737. Very little is known about his early years. At the age of 26 in 1763, he was knighted by King Charles III of Spain, and was made and ambassador of Spain. In 1776, as Spain started to settle colonies and build missions in what is now the United States, Charles III sent Francisco Montoya on an exploration to California to establish and claim land for Spain.

Exploration
Montoya sailed for two years across the Atlantic and around the southern tip of South America to California. He arrived in what is now San Francisco in 1778 to stop for supplies. From there, Montoya planned to head north by foot to explore what is now Marin County.

In March of 1779, Montoya set found discovered an area of land in the northern region of Marin, and became the first European to set foot in the area, now known as the Montoya Wilderness. On March 29, Montoya climbed up a rock in the Wilderness and discovered many ravens roosting there. In his diary, he wrote,

"March 29, 1779 - Today while exploring this strange wilderness I came across something truly fascinating. I climbed up a large rock only to find a countless amount of black ravens roosting atop. The birds flew off as I approached them. I planted a flag on this remarkable rock, alas cleaning this land for Spain and the great King Charles. I went ahead and named this rock myself, the Raven's Nest."

Death
One night, in July that year, while camping around what is now Tamalpais Valley, Francisco Montoya was murdered by a band of Native Americans. The remains of his body were never found. However, local legend claims that his body was buried around what is now the corner of 6th Street and Montoya Avenue in Tamalpais Valley, though this has never been confirmed.