Juan Francisco de la Bodega y Quadra

Juan Francisco de la Bodega y Quadra
Born	22 May 1743 Lima, Viceroyalty of Peru
Died	26 March 1794(1794-03-26) (aged 50) Mexico City, New Spain
Allegiance	Spain
Service/branch	Spanish Navy
Years of service	1763–1793

Juan Francisco de la Bodega y Quadra (22 May 1743 – 26 March 1794) was a Spanish Criollo naval officer operating in the Americas. Assigned to the Pacific coast Spanish Naval Department base at San Blas, in Viceroyalty of New Spain (present day Mexico), he explored the Northwest Coast of North America as far north as present day Alaska. Bodega Bay in California is named for him.

Juan Francisco de la Bodega y Quadra joined the Spanish Naval Academy in Cádiz at 19, and four years later, in 1767 was commissioned as an officer of the rank Frigate Ensign (alférez de fragata). In 1773 he was promoted to Ship Ensign (alférez de navío), and in 1774 to Ship Lieutenant (teniente de navío).