Aguilar, Martín de (?–1603)

Martín de Aguilar (d. January 1603), Spanish mariner, explorer of the Californias. Aguilar began his career of exploration as a sailor on the expedition of Sebastián Vizcaíno in the Gulf of California (June—November 1596). Subsequently he was an ensign on Vizcaíno's voyage that charted the coast of the Californias in 1602–1603. Next he served on the frigate Tres Reyes, the crew of which explored, made soundings, and obtained provisions along the coast to Monterey. From 17 December 1602 to 3 January 1603 he provisioned the Tres Reyes, which sailed north from Monterey. Separated from the flagship San Diego north of Point Reyes on 5 January, the Santo Tomás was forced beyond Cabo Blanco, Oregon. Aguilar discovered a large, raging river thought to be the Strait of Anián.

Aguilar and his pilot, Antonio Flores, died at sea; the pilot's aide, Esteban López, returned to Navidad, Jalisco, on 28 February 1603. The torrential river, first named the Santa Inés, was subsequently named the Martín de Aguilar (and was also known as the Antón Flores).

See alsoExplorers and Exploration: Spanish America .

BIBLIOGRAPHY

W. Michael Mathes, ed., Californiana I: Documentos para la historia de la demarcación comercial de California, 1583–1632 (1965); and Vizcaíno and Spanish Expansion in the Pacific Ocean, 1580–1630 (1968).

Additional Bibliography

Rodríguez Sala de Gómezgil, María Luisa. "Sebastián Vizcaíno y Fray Antonio de la Ascensión: Una nueva etapa en el reconocimiento de las Californias novohis-panas; estudio socio-histórico." Estudios Fronterizos, 35-36 (Jan.-Dec 1995), pp. 9-41.

                                 W. Michael Mathes