Spanish Franciscan priest whose missionary work in North America earned him the title of Apostle of California.

After entering the Franciscan Order in 1730 and being ordained in 1738, Serra taught philosophy at Lullian University (Palma, Majorca). In 1750 he arrived in Mexico City for missionary (mission) work among the Indians, serving first in the Sierra Gorda missions from 1750 to 1758 and then in south-central Mexico from 1758 to 1767.

When Spain began its occupation of Alta California (present-day California), Serra joined the expedition's commander, Gaspar de Portolá (Portolá, Gaspar de). On July 16, 1769, he founded Mission San Diego, the first within the present state of California. From 1770 to 1782 he founded eight more Californian missions: Carmel, his headquarters, at Monterey, in 1770; San Antonio and San Gabriel (near Los Angeles), 1771; San Luis Obispo, 1772; San Francisco (Mission Dolores) and San Juan Capistrano, 1776; Santa Clara, 1777; and San Buenaventura, 1782. Serra's missions helped strengthen Spain's control of Alta California.

Serra's treatment of the Indians is debated. His advocates claim that he was a strenuous defender of the Indians and introduced to their lands the cattle, sheep, grains, and fruits of Mexico. Some 20th-century American Indians have charged that he enslaved their ancestors and was part of the colonial system.

Serra was beatified on Sept. 25, 1988.