HIPPOLYTE DE BOUCHARD

Hippolyte de Bouchard was a French-born sailor and pirate who fought for Argentina in the early 1800s, attacking and plundering various Spanish colonies, including early California.

After attacking Spanish assets in South America, Madagascar, Manila and the Sandwich (Hawaiian) Islands, he turned his sights on the Spanish colony of Alta California.

The province’s governor had about 400 soldiers to defend the coast from San Francisco to San Diego.  His forces, however, were no match for Bouchard and his men, who attacked the capital of Monterey in November, 1818.

The governor was forced to abandon the presidio and retreat to a ranch in Salinas. 

Bouchard occupied Monterey for six days. He and his men ransacked it and set it on fire, but the presidio church and the mission at Carmel were saved.

After raiding Monterey, Bouchard headed down the coast, destroying a ranch north of Santa Barbara and plundering Mission San Juan Capistrano in Southern California.

He went on to raid Spanish holdings in Central America and is remembered as an Argentine hero.