José de Züñiga

José de Zúñiga (1755–after 1806) was a Spanish soldier and commandant of presidios in California, Arizona, and Chihuahua.

Biography Zúñiga was born 1755 in Cuautitlán, near Mexico City, to Spanish parents.

He enlisted as a cadet in the Spanish Army on October 18, 1772. His initial army experience came through campaigns against the native Apaches. In 1780 he was promoted to lieutenant while stationed at the Presidio of San Carlos de Cerro Gordo, near the Big Bend Country along the Rio Grande. In 1781 Lt. Zúñiga led his troops to Mission San Gabriel.

He became Commandant of the Presidio of San Diego on September 8, 1781, and served in that post until October 19, 1793. While there, he maintained good relations with the missionaries and the native people, and was also well-regarded for reducing corruption in the presidio.

Zúñiga arrived in Tucson in 1794, where he served until 1806. While in Tucson, he led a campaign to the Zuni pueblos in 1795. After 1806, he moved on to the Arizpe presidio, where he served as assistant inspector of the presidios.

Zúñiga had at least two sons. His son Ignacio was born in 1796 in Tucson. He had a previous son born 1783 as the result of an affair with Teresa Morillo, wife of an enlisted man, Manuel Nieto.