Estudillo family of California

José María Estudillo is the founder of the family.[3] He was one of the first settlers of San Diego and a celebrated military officer.[4] He served twice as Commandant of the Presidio of San Diego (1820-1821 and 1827-1830). He built the Casa de Estudillo of San Diego, a National Historical Landmark. During an 1823 expedition through the Coachella Valley, he first recorded the existence of thermal springs near modern-day Palm Springs, California.[5][4]

José Joaquín Estudillo was born in Monterey in 1800. He enlisted as an officer at aged 15 and served at the Presidio of Monterey.[6] He later served one term as Alcalde of San Francisco (mayor) from 1835 to 1836.[7] He was in charge of the secularization of Mission San Francisco de Asís at the beginning of 1835.[8] He was granted Rancho San Leandro in Contra Costa in 1837 and later founded the city of San Leandro.[9] There he built the Casa de Estudillo of San Leandro, a Californian Historic Landmark.

José Antonio Estudillo was born in Monterey in 1803. He enlisted as a soldier at the Presidio of San Diego. He served one term as Alcalde of San Diego (mayor), from 1837 to 1839, and twice as acting mayor, in 1845 and 1846.[10] He was granted Rancho Janal in 1829 and Rancho San Jacinto Viejo in 1842.[11] He served as the first San Diego County Assessor in 1850.

José Guadalupe Estudillo was born in San Diego in 1838. He served as 10th California State Treasurer (1875 to 1880) and as 13th Mayor of San Diego (1868 to 1869).[12][13] He also served as Treasurer of San Diego County from 1864 to 1875.

• Miguel Estudillo, who served in the California Senate (1908-1910) and the California State Assembly (1904-1908). He also served twice as City Attorney of Riverside (1918-1924 and 1941-1949). He authored the legislation which gave Yosemite to the federal government for the establishment of a national park.[14]