California Timeline By aca1203 1500 Portuguese Incursion 1542 Cabrillo sailed 1551 Debate at Valladolid 1577 Queen Elizabeth ordered Sir Francis Drake 1579 Sir Francis Drake puts boat on rest of tidal flat 1600 Dutch (East Indies) 1734 New Spain: Colegio de San Fernando 1740 Russian Period: 1759 to 1784 Expulsion of Society of Jesuits 1769 First mission established 1771 Founding of San Gabriel Mission 1782 Deteriorating sst San Grabriel Prohibitions against morning dance 1785 Indian Revolt at San Gabriel Establishing of pueblo of Los Angeles Forced conversions 1802 Diphtheria and pneumonia at Mission San Gabriel 1806 Measles Epidemic at San Gabriel mission 1821 Influenza at San Gabriel Mission 1832 Malaria at San Gabriel Mission 1837 Indian Attack on Ranchos near Jamul 1841 Letter to War Ministry, Mexico City 1846 Mexican American War 1846 Bear Flag Revolt Period: 1846 to 1847 Donner Party Disaster 1847 Migrant Party arrived at Sutter's Fort in new Helvetia 1848 Gold is Discovered 1851 Dame Shirley describes Life at California Gold Mining Camp