 Fray Francisco Silvestre Vélez de Escalante was born in Treceño, Cantabria, Spain about 1750.When he was 17 he became a Franciscan in the Convento Grande in Mexico City.In 1774 he came to present-day New Mexico in the Mexican province; he was first stationed at Laguna pueblo and then in January 1775 assigned as a minister to the Zuni.