The New International Encyclopædia/Arce, Francisco

AR′CE, Span. pron., är′thā̇, Francisco (1822–78). A California pioneer. He removed to Alta California in 1833, and soon afterward became secretary to General José Castro, then commanding the Californian forces. In 1846, while bringing a number of horses, supposed to belong to the Californian Government, from Sonoma to the south, he was attacked (June 6) by a company of Americans, supposedly instigated by Captain John C. Fremont. The “Arce affair” attracted widespread attention, and marked the beginning of the Bear-Flag Revolt, which resulted in the seizure of California by the Americans.