Johann Jakob Baegert (or Jacob Baegert, Jacobo Baegert) (December 22, 1717 – September 29, 1772) was a Jesuit missionary at San Luis Gonzaga in Baja California Sur, Mexico. He is noted for his detailed and acerbic account of the peninsula, the culture of its native inhabitants, and the history of its Spanish exploration and missionization.
Titlepage of Jacob Baegert's Observations in Lower California, 1772
Damaged tombstone of Rev. Jacob Baegert in Neustadt an der Weinstraße (2010): "P. JACOBUS BAEGERT S.J., OBIIT DIE 29. SEPT. 1772"
Baegert was born in Sélestat, Alsace, the son of a leather worker. Of his three brothers and three sisters, two brothers and two sisters also entered religious orders, and the third brother was a secular priest. Baegert began his Jesuit novitiate at Mainz in 1736 and received further training at Mannheim and Molsheim. After serving briefly as a professor at the college in Haguenau, he was assigned to missionary work in the New World. He went by way of Genoa and Cadiz to Veracruz, Mexico City, and finally Baja California in 1749-1751. Baegert's travels across Europe as well as his experiences in Mexico and Baja California were described in ten letters he wrote to his family (Baegert 1777, 1982).
The new missionary was assigned to work among the Guaycura at Mission San Luis Gonzaga. Initially established as a "visita," or subordinate mission station, by Clemente Guillén in 1721, the mission was founded in 1740 and managed in succession by Lambert Hostell and Johann Bischoff prior to Baegert's arrival. Baegert served at San Luis Gonzaga for the next 17 years, also functioning as a time as the Superior for the California missions.
In 1767 the Spanish king Charles III ordered the expulsion of the Jesuits. As a non-Spanish subject, Baegert traveled back to Sélestat and ultimately settled at Neustadt an der Weinstraße 1770, where he worked as a priest and teacher until he died. He published his description of Baja California in 1771, with a revised edition appearing in 1772 (Baegert 1772, 1952). Jacob Baegert was buried in Neustadt and his simple tombstone is kept there, outside of St. Mary's Catholic Church.
Baegert's book includes an account of the Guaycura language and many other aspects of native culture.
References
Baegert, Johann Jakob. 1772. Nachrichten von der Amerikanischen Halbinsel Californien mit einem zweyfachen Anhand falscher Nachrichten. Churfürstl. Hof- und Academie-Buchdruckerey, Mannheim.
Baegert, Johann Jakob. 1777. "Brief eines Elsässers an seinen Bruder in Schlettstadt". Patriotischer Elsässer. Strassburg.
Baegert, Johann Jakob. 1952. Observations in Lower California. University of California Press, Berkeley.
Baegert, Johann Jakob. 1982. The Letters of Jacob Baegert, 1749–1761, Jesuit Missionary in Baja California. Edited by Doyce B. Nunis, Jr. Dawson's Book Shop, Los Angeles.
External links
Nachrichten aus der Amerikanischen Halbinsel Californien - online copy of the original book published in Germany in 1772
May 05, 2023
johann, jakob, baegert, this, article, includes, list, references, related, reading, external, links, sources, remain, unclear, because, lacks, inline, citations, please, help, improve, this, article, introducing, more, precise, citations, 2014, learn, when, r. This article includes a list of references related reading or external links but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations May 2014 Learn how and when to remove this template message Johann Jakob Baegert or Jacob Baegert Jacobo Baegert December 22 1717 September 29 1772 was a Jesuit missionary at San Luis Gonzaga in Baja California Sur Mexico He is noted for his detailed and acerbic account of the peninsula the culture of its native inhabitants and the history of its Spanish exploration and missionization Titlepage of Jacob Baegert s Observations in Lower California 1772 Damaged tombstone of Rev Jacob Baegert in Neustadt an der Weinstrasse 2010 P JACOBUS BAEGERT S J OBIIT DIE 29 SEPT 1772 Baegert was born in Selestat Alsace the son of a leather worker Of his three brothers and three sisters two brothers and two sisters also entered religious orders and the third brother was a secular priest Baegert began his Jesuit novitiate at Mainz in 1736 and received further training at Mannheim and Molsheim After serving briefly as a professor at the college in Haguenau he was assigned to missionary work in the New World He went by way of Genoa and Cadiz to Veracruz Mexico City and finally Baja California in 1749 1751 Baegert s travels across Europe as well as his experiences in Mexico and Baja California were described in ten letters he wrote to his family Baegert 1777 1982 The new missionary was assigned to work among the Guaycura at Mission San Luis Gonzaga Initially established as a visita or subordinate mission station by Clemente Guillen in 1721 the mission was founded in 1740 and managed in succession by Lambert Hostell and Johann Bischoff prior to Baegert s arrival Baegert served at San Luis Gonzaga for the next 17 years also functioning as a time as the Superior for the California missions In 1767 the Spanish king Charles III ordered the expulsion of the Jesuits As a non Spanish subject Baegert traveled back to Selestat and ultimately settled at Neustadt an der Weinstrasse 1770 where he worked as a priest and teacher until he died He published his description of Baja California in 1771 with a revised edition appearing in 1772 Baegert 1772 1952 Jacob Baegert was buried in Neustadt and his simple tombstone is kept there outside of St Mary s Catholic Church Baegert s book includes an account of the Guaycura language and many other aspects of native culture References EditBaegert Johann Jakob 1772 Nachrichten von der Amerikanischen Halbinsel Californien mit einem zweyfachen Anhand falscher Nachrichten Churfurstl Hof und Academie Buchdruckerey Mannheim Baegert Johann Jakob 1777 Brief eines Elsassers an seinen Bruder in Schlettstadt Patriotischer Elsasser Strassburg Baegert Johann Jakob 1952 Observations in Lower California University of California Press Berkeley Baegert Johann Jakob 1982 The Letters of Jacob Baegert 1749 1761 Jesuit Missionary in Baja California Edited by Doyce B Nunis Jr Dawson s Book Shop Los Angeles External links EditNachrichten aus der Amerikanischen Halbinsel Californien online copy of the original book published in Germany in 1772 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Johann Jakob Baegert amp oldid 990503251, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
