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Francisco De UlloaFrancisco de Ulloa (d. 1540) was a Spanish explorer who explored the west coast of present-day Mexico under the commission of Hernn Corts. The reports of his expeditions along the Baja California peninsula are credited with being influential in the perpetuation of the 17th century cartographic misconception of the existence of the Island of California. It is not known whether Ulloa accompanied Corts on his first expedition to the New Spain. By the account of Diaz del Castillo, he came to Mexico later while transporting letters to Corts from his wife. According to some early historians, Ulloa has influential in helping subdue the Aztec capital by naval power. In 1539, at the private expense of Corts, he embarked an expedition in three small vessels, sailing north from Acapulco to explore the Pacific Coast and seek the mythical Strait of Anin that supposedly led to the Gulf of St. Lawrence, provind a route of the Northwest Passage. The expedition left on July 8, sailing along the coast of Mexico and reaching the Gulf of California six weeks. Ulloa named it the "Sea of Cortes" in honor of his patron. When one of his ships was lost in a storm, Ulloa paused to repair the other two, resuming his voyage on September 12 and eventually reaching the head of the Gulf of California. Unable to find the Strait of Anin, Ulloa turned south and sailed along the eastern coast of the Baja California peninsula, landing at the Bay of La Paz. After taking on supplies of wood and water, Ulloa rounded the tip of the peninsula with great difficulty and sailed northward along the western shore in the Pacific Ocean. The progress of his small ships was hampered by the fierce winds and high seas he encountered, eventually forcing him to turn back to New Spain. The voyage eventually reached 28 degrees north, near the Isla de Cedros. Although his discoveries lent support to the fact that Baja California was a peninsula, his reports were used to create maps depicting California as an island. According to Diaz del Castillo, Ulloa was stabbed to death after his return by a sailor in 1540. By other accounts, his ship was lost without a trace during the return voyage from Baja California. See also External link Ulloa, Francisco de
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