GARCEES, FRANCISCO. - Franciscan missionary and explorer, b. in 1738 at Morate del Conte (Kingdom of Aragon), d. 17 July 1781. Assigned to the missions of Central America, he belonged to the College of S. Cruz of Queretaro (Mexico), where he remained for some years as a teacher. In 1768 he left the college to devote himself to the conversion of the savages.
Amid innumerable dangers and difficulties, he visited several hitherto unknown tribes; he explored the Rio Colorado and, in one expedition, advanced as far as upper California, to S. Francisco. He concluded his laborious work as missionary and explorer with martyrdom. Among other foundations, he established the missions of the Conception and of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul on the Rio Colorado.
His important Diario and other writings are found in: O. Mass, Viajes de misioneros Franciscanos à la conquista del Nuevo México (Sevilla 1915).