[5] His parents were Army Captain Joseph Eusebio Micheltorena (who in 1819 was included among a list of notable foreigners in Mexico),[6] and Catarina Gertrudis Llano.

[1] Micheltorena was appointed governor of California by Mexican president Antonio López de Santa Anna, the territory's 9th, and served from 30 December 1842 until his ouster in 1845.

Micheltorena brought with him from Mexico a group of soldiers that included criminals, and who were derisively referred to by some as cholos,[7] to enforce his policies.

Micheltorena was defeated at the 1845 Battle of Providencia, left California, and was succeeded by Pío Pico as governor.

Micheltorena served as Brigadier-General, Chief of Staff to Antonio López de Santa Anna's Army of the North in the Mexican–American War in 1847.