Juan Francisco de la Bodega y Quadra

Frigate Captain Juan Francisco de la Bodega y Quadra was a Spanish Navy officer. Assigned to the Pacific coast Spanish Naval Department base at San Blas, in Viceroyalty of New Spain, he explored the Northwest Coast of North America as far north as present day Alaska. Bodega Bay in California is named for him. Bodega joined the Spanish Naval Academy in Cádiz at 19, and four years later, in 1767 was commissioned as an officer of the rank of frigate ensign. In 1773 he was promoted to ship-of-the-line ensign, and in 1774 to ship-of-the-line lieutenant.