Felipe de Neve

Felipe de Neve was a Spanish governor who played a key role in the establishment of Los Angeles. In the fall of 1781, he led 44 settlers from Sonora and Mazatlán to found a pueblo near the Río de Porciúncula. This settlement was named El Pueblo de la Reina de los Angeles, later shortened to Los Angeles.1

The Spanish colonization of California, including the establishment of missions and settlements like Los Angeles, was part of the larger Viceroyalty of New Spain. This viceroyalty was one of four created by Spain to govern its New World territories. The Spanish presence in California was motivated by a desire to convert Native Americans to Christianity and to counter potential intrusions from other European powers like Russia and Britain.23