1703day.year
Ferdinand Konščak
(1703 - 1759)
Croatian missionary and explorer
Croatian missionary and explorer
Ferdinand Konščak (1703–1759) was a Croatian Jesuit missionary and explorer who mapped the Baja California Peninsula.
Born in Croatia, he joined the Society of Jesus and was sent to New Spain in 1720.
Konščak explored Baja California between 1746 and 1748, carefully mapping its coast and interior routes.
His detailed reports proved California was a peninsula, not an island, correcting long-held misconceptions.
He established missions and fostered respectful relations with indigenous communities.
His geographic and ethnographic observations enriched European knowledge of the New World.
Konščak's name endures in Baja California through landmarks honoring his contributions.
1703
Ferdinand Konščak