Page "Mission San Fernando Rey de España" Paragraph 4

Mission San Fernando Rey de España was founded on September 8, 1797 by Father Fermín Lasuén, making it the fourth mission site he had established in as many months.

The prime location the padre selected, located along the principal highway leading to the Pueblo de Los Angeles, had been occupied by Francisco Reyes ( then Los Angeles ' mayor ).

However, after brief negotiations construction of the first buildings was soon underway ( Mission records list Reyes as godfather to the first infant baptized at San Fernando ).