Gaspar de Portola
Portolá Gaspar de (1723?–1784), a Spanish explorer. Portolá, an army officer, was made governor of Upper and Lower California in 1767. During 1769–70 he led an expedition that secured Spain's rights in Upper California. Portolá discovered San Francisco Bay and founded military posts at San Diego and Monterey. Missions were established there by Father Junípero Serra, a member of the expedition.