Francisco de Ulloa

It is not known whether Francisco de Ulloa accompanied Cortés on his first expedition to the New Spain.

By the account of Bernal Díaz del Castillo, he came to Mexico later while transporting letters to Cortés from his wife.

According to some early historians, Ulloa was influential in helping subdue the Aztec capital Tenochtitlan by naval power.

In 1539, at the private expense of Cortés, he embarks on an expedition in three small vessels, sailing north from Acapulco to explore the Pacific Coast, and to seek the mythical Strait of Anián that supposedly leads to the Gulf of St. Lawrence, proving the existence of the Northwest Passage.

The expedition leaves on July 8 sailing northwards along the coast.

Ulloa, reaching the Gulf of California six weeks after departing Acapulco, names it the "Sea of Cortés" in honor of his patron.

When one of his ships is lost in a storm Ulloa pauses to repair the other two ships, then resumes his voyage on September 12, eventually reaching the head of the Gulf.

Ulloa is unable to find the Strait of Anián and turns south, sailing along the eastern coast of the Baja California Peninsula and landing at the Bay of La Paz.

After taking on supplies of wood and water, …

...Ulloa rounds the tip of the peninsula with great difficulty and sails northward along the western shore in the Pacific Ocean.

The progress of Ulloa’s small ships is hampered by the fierce winds and high seas he encounters, eventually forcing him to turn back to New Spain.

The voyage eventually reaches 28 degrees north near the Isla de Cedros.

Ulloa’s discoveries lend support to the fact that Baja California is a peninsula.

According to Díaz del Castillo, Ulloa was stabbed to death by a sailor after his return in 1540.