Gaspar de Portol%C3%A1

Gaspar de Portol i Rovira was a Spanish soldier and administrator in New Spain and became the founder and first governor of Alta California, as commander of the Spanish colonizing expedition on land and sea that established San Diego and Monterey. Portol also led the first land expedition from San Diego to San Francisco. He named many geographic features on the way, many of which are still in use.

Portol was born on January 1, 1716 in Os de Balaguer, in Spain, of Catalan nobility. Don Gaspar served as a soldier in the Spanish army in Italy and Portugal. He was commissioned ensign in 1734, and lieutenant in 1743.

Source: Wikipedia