San Deigo Historic Site 70 CASA DE PEDRORENA

On the east side of San Diego Avenue, between Twiggs and Mason Streets, was this, the home of Don Miguel T. de Pedrorena. Handsome and debonnaire, he was conspicuous as a leader in social life as in public affairs. Don Miguel came from one of the best families in Madrid, and received his education there and at Oxford University.

He proved himself a courageous military leader during the Mexican War, serving as a captain in the United States cavalry. He was in the forefront of the attack against Fort Stockton when it was finally taken. Earlier he had helped by burying underneath his house or in the patio behind it, El Jupiter, the old bronze gun now at the fort, in order to prevent itsbeing brought into action against the Americans.

Don Miguel was a member of the Constitutional Convention at Monterey in 1849. He joined William Heath Davis and some others in the abortive foundingof New Town in 1850, the year he died.

His house passed into the hands of his son-in-law, Jose Antonio Altamirano,who raised his family there also. Altamirano owned the little frame house next door, where the San Diego Union was first published. It has been connected with his name, traditionally, rather than the larger adobe.