Ygnacio Martínez

Ygnacio Nicanor Martínez (1774–1848) was a Californio politician, soldier, and ranchero, who served as the fourth Alcalde of San Francisco (then known as Yerba Buena). He was an important figure in the development of Contra Costa and the city of Martinez, California is named after him.^[1]

Ygnacio Martínez
4th Alcalde of San Francisco
In office 1837–1838
Preceded by	Francisco Guerrero y Palomares
Succeeded by	Francisco de Haro
Personal details
Born	1774
Died	1848
Resting place	Mission San José
Spouse	Martina Arellanes
Residence	Rancho El Pinole

Life

Ygnacio Martínez was born in Mexico City, New Spain (now Mexico), and was a soldier in Alta California by 1822. In 1827, as a lieutenant stationed at the Presidio of San Francisco, Martínez met with the American explorer Jedediah Smith and helped to facilitate the continuation of Smith's northward travels toward the Columbia River.

Martínez was the fourth Alcalde of Yerba Buena (now San Francisco) in 1837. In 1842, he was granted the Rancho El Pinole, which included the Alhambra Valley.^[2] A portion of the rancho later became part of the city of Martinez.

Family

Martínez married Maria Martina Arellanes in 1802, and the couple had eleven children: nine daughters and two sons. One of the daughters, Maria Antonia Martinez (1803–1887), married William A. Richardson in 1825.

Ygnacio Martínez died in June, 1848, in the area that would become Contra Costa County, and is buried at Mission San Jose Cemetery in Fremont, California.^[3]

Legacy

The city of Martinez, California, which serves as the county seat of Contra Costa County, was named after Ygnacio Martínez by his son-in-law, William M. Smith, founder of the city.

References

1. Burt, Harriett; Perry, Charlene (4 January 2012). "The Founder of the City of Martinez: Col. William Smith". Contra Costa County Historical Society. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
2. "Martinez Historical Society". Martinezhistory.org. Retrieved 20 July 2018.
3. Pinole