Jacinto Caamaño

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Jacinto Caamaño Moraleja (September 8, 1759 – November 29, 1829) was a Spanish explorer who led the last major Spanish voyage to Alaska and the coast of what is now British Columbia. He later joined a politico-commercial expedition toward Constantinople to seek trade with Turkey, Poland, and Russia.

In 1790, Caamaño was chosen by Juan Francisco de la Bodega y Quadra to travel to the Pacific Coast of Mexico and the San Blas naval base, headquarters for Pacific Northwest exploration. He held the rank of Frigate Lieutenant. His brother-in-law, Francisco de Eliza, accompanied him and would later become Governor of Fort San Miguel on Vancouver Island. On the voyage to Mexico, they were joined by the recently named Viceroy of New Spain, the 2nd Count of Revillagigedo.

Caamaño commanded the Nuestra Señora del Rosario (La Princesa), a 189-ton frigate built in San Blas for northern exploration, on an expedition that began in 1790. In 1792 he sailed as captain of the Aránzazu, a Philippine-built corvette, and reached as far as Bucareli Bay. By this time he had been promoted to Ship Lieutenant.

This expedition thoroughly mapped the coast from Bucareli to Nootka, and Caamaño marked many places on the coast of Alaska and British Columbia that are still shown on modern maps. Departing Nootka on June 13, 1792, he explored Bucareli Bay, anchored in Dixon Entrance on July 20, and then moved south through Principe Channel, Nepean Sound, Whale Sound near the Estevan Group, Caamaño Sound and Laredo Channel, passing between Aristazabal Island and Princess Royal Island before returning to Nootka on September 7, 1792. He gave names to several waters and islands—Principe Channel, Laredo Channel, Campania Island, Campania Sound, Aristazabal Island, Gil Island, and Gravina Island—which George Vancouver later used on his charts.

After his Alaska voyage, Caamaño was sent across the Pacific to the Philippines. From 1794 to 1807 he served at various posts between Mexico and Peru. He married Francisca de Arteta Santistevan, and they had eight children.

By 1820 he was living in Guayaquil, Ecuador, the birthplace of his youngest daughter, but the date and place of his death are not known. His family remained prominent in Ecuador; his grandson José Plácido Caamaño became president, and his great-grandsons included Jacinto Jijón y Caamaño (a historian and politician) and Ernesto Noboa y Caamaño (a poet).

Several places were named to honor him: Camano Island in Puget Sound, Caamaño Sound in British Columbia, Jacinto Island, Caamaño Passage northwest of Prince Rupert, and Caamano Point at the Cleveland Peninsula in Southeast Alaska.