Career
Born in Lodi, Lombardy, he served initially as missionary at Louisiana Purísima (1730–1732) and San Ignacio (1732-1733), among the Cochimí. A notable episode while he was at San Ignacio was the bringing of the inhabitants of Cedros Island to the mission. In a relatively detailed account of the islanders" aboriginal lifeways, Taraval presented what were perhaps the earliest speculations concerning the region"s prehistoric past
In 1733 he was sent south to found the Misión Santa Rosa de las Palmas at the modern site of Todos Santos.
He wrote a detailed if partisan account of the revolt and its subsequent suppression. Subsequently Taraval later served at the southern missions of San José del Cabo (1736–1746) and Santiago (1747–1750).
Taraval Street in San Francisco is named after him.
