English ship Orion lands at Yerba Buena under William A. Richardson

Background. Yerba Buena was an anchorage spot that later developed into a settlement, founded only in 1834 — well after Richardson's 1822 arrival — near the northeastern end of the San Francisco Peninsula on the shores of Yerba Buena Cove. The dating of Mexican independence varies across sources: one passage states that Spain ceded the Californias to Mexico in 1821, while another refers to Mexican independence in 1820. Richardson arrived in San Francisco Bay in 1822, shortly after Mexico had won its independence from Spain.

Arrival of the Orion. William Anthony Richardson arrived as second mate aboard the British whaling ship Orion in San Francisco Bay in 1822. The ship's arrival coincided with the period shortly after Mexico had won its independence from Spain. Richardson was an early California entrepreneur who became influential in the development of the settlement called Yerba Buena.

Yerba Buena Settlement. Yerba Buena was originally intended as a trading post for ships visiting San Francisco Bay. It was the first Spanish colonial or Mexican civilian settlement in San Francisco. The settlement was founded in 1834, near the northeastern end of the San Francisco Peninsula, on the shores of Yerba Buena Cove.