José Antonio Aguirre

José Antonio Aguirre (1799–1860), commonly known as Don Antonio Aguirre, was a Spanish-born Californio merchant and ranchero, active in the Southern Californian cities of San Diego and Santa Barbara.

Biography Aguirre was born in San Sebastián, Spain, but left the Basque Country for North America at the age of 15, settling in New Orleans, Louisiana. He became a citizen of first Mexico and then the United States as national powers rose and fell on the continent. He was a merchant in Guaymas, Mexico, then moved to Alta California, becoming a shipowner and trader. He divided his residence between San Diego and Santa Barbara, where he was said in 1842 to own the finest residence in town. In the late 1830s he became a partner in his trading activities with another Spaniard, Miguel Pedrorena, who later became his brother-in-law. He soon became one of the most prosperous merchants in Alta California.

In 1858, Aguirre bought the land and paid for the construction of an adobe church in San Diego. At the time there were only private chapels (in Casa de Estudillo and Casa de Aguirre) since the Presidio church and the Mission church were both in ruins.

José Antonio Aguirre died July 31, 1860. He was buried in the confessional of the church he had donated to the town.