This scholarly biography of the Franciscan Fermín Francisco Lasuén, pioneer missionary of both Californias (1768-1785) and successor of Junípero Serra as Father President of the Upper California missions (1785-1803), is an important contribution to the history of Spam’s expansion along the Pacific. Much was already known about Lasuén: Lázaro Lamadrid Jiménez, O.F.M., published in 1963 a biography of him in two volumes; Maynard Geiger, O.F.M., in his well-known study of Serra, also had much to say about Lasuén; more general historians of California’s Spanish era, such as Hubert H. Bancroft and Charles E. Chapman, paid considerable attention to the respective roles of Serra and Lasuén; yet, on reading the present clear and straightforward account of the latter, it soon becomes evident that there still remained abundant untapped sources for the diligent researcher and biographer to place in better perspective the life and work of the two eminent Franciscan missionaries and superiors.
A brief introduction clearly justifies this full-length biography. The author’s key motive is found in the role played by Lasuén in the history of California: he “administered the missions during the most dynamic period of their development” (pp. xviii-xix); the arts and crafts learned by the Indians under his tutelage enabled California to survive when it was severed from the mainland during the war of independence; his ability as a diplomat contributed immeasurably to render harmonious the dealings of the military and missionaries; his exceptional self-control saved him for California when his natural inclinations urged him to return to a more comfortable and less isolated life in Mexico City; finally, the Spanish mission system of the time needed a more detailed explanation.
Instead of trying to present detailed specific data on Lasuén’s early life—an impossible task—Father Guest succeeded in reconstructing Contemporary Vitoria (Spain), the missionary’s hometown. The pages on the Mexican College of San Fernando, where Lasuén finished his course of study and training, will help readers to understand better the formation there of other pioneer California missionaries. The expulsion of the Jesuits from Lower California in 1768 was the immediate occasion for summoning the Franciscans to take over the peninsular missions. Lasuén was placed in charge of San Borja, the northernmost center. In 1773, shortly after the Dominicans took over all the ex-Jesuit missions in Lower California, he continued northward to help out his brothers in Upper California; but it was not until December of 1780 that he succeeded in silencing forever his earlier preference for Mexico City.
Two chapters (VII-VIII) are a careful study of his friendship with Fernando di Rivera y Moncada, Commander of the Presidios of New California (1774-1777); it is not exact, however, to state that “Rivera, notwithstanding the urging of the Viceroy, refused to establish new missions” (p. 59). Despite the assassination of Father Luis Jayme and the destruction of Mission San Diego by the Indians in 1775, the commander helped to found three missions: San Juan Capistrano, San Francisco, and Santa Clara. Three chapters (XI-XIII) study the problems which arose at that time between Pedro Fages (Commander of the Upper California Presidios from 1770 to 1774 and then Governor of California from 1782 to 1791) and the missionaries. Lasuén is shown as most tactful, prudent, patient, and persevering—more so than Serra-in arriving at satisfactory solutions and workable compromises. The text closes with an enlightening comparison between Serra and Lasuén. The illustrations are sketches of five missions and maps of three groups of missions. The volume is recommended unreservedly to all readers interested in a careful and fascinating account of early California.
