Fitch, Henry Delano, 1799-1849.

Biography

Henry Delano Fitch, born in New Bedford, Massachusetts in 1799, first came to California in about 1826 as master of the vessel Maria Ester, owned by Henry Edward Virmond of Mexico. Fitch was employed for a number of years by Virmond, trading along the west coast ports of north and South America. The earliest letters and documents of the collection deal with these activities.

After his elopement with Josefa Carrillo in 1829, Fitch settled in San Diego, soon becoming the principal trader of that port, a position he maintained until his death in 1848. Although Fitch took an active part in local affairs, holding various offices at different times, his deepest interest was in his commercial enterprises.