John McDougall (California governor)
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| John McDougall | |
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| In office January 9, 1851 – January 8, 1852 |
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| Lieutenant(s) | David C. Broderick |
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| Preceded by | Peter Burnett |
| Succeeded by | John Bigler |
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| Born | circa 1818 Ross County, Ohio |
| Died | March 30, 1866 San Francisco, California |
| Political party | Independent Democrat |
| Profession | Politician, Miner |
John McDougall (or McDougal) (circa 1818 – March 30, 1866) was the first Lieutenant Governor of California from 1849 to 1851, and later Governor of California from January 9, 1851 until January 8, 1852.
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[edit] Personal background
Born in Ohio at an unspecified date somewhere around 1818, McDougall came to California as a gold miner during the California Gold Rush. Shortly after his arrival, McDougall entered into the new territory's politics, present at the first Constitutional Convention in Monterey in 1849. McDougall was one of the original signers of the Constitution of California. During the convention, McDougall was nominated for Lieutenant Governor, where he remarked, "I reckon I'll take that. I don't believe anyone else will have it."[1] Following a succesful election over five other contenders to the office, McDougall was sworn in as the first state Lieutenant Governor in December 1849 with Peter Burnett, the state's first governor.
[edit] Governorship
Following Burnett's resignation from the governorship in early January 1851 due to widespread discontent of his administration from the California State Legislature and press, McDougall assumed the post, relatively inexperienced with any political office, on January 9. In one of his first acts, McDougall signed legislation sponsored by State Senator and former Mexican General Mariano Vallejo on February 4 to remove the capitol from its cramped quarters in San Jose forty miles north to Vallejo.[2]
In the first weeks of his governorship, McDougall was pressured by miners and residents in Mariposa County to intervene in a growing conflict later known as the Mariposa War, with the local Miwok, Chowchilla, and Yokut tribes opposing encroachment on their land. [3] In late January, he authorized the creation of a 200 man Mariposa Battalion, a state militia unit to tackle Natives he believed were in open rebellion to the state government. In the ensuing conflict, which left over forty dead, the Mariposa Battalion became the first Whites to see Yosemite, while the local tribes ceased violent reprisals on the miner and trader population.[3]
While McDougall continued with the earlier policies of the Burnett Administration in regards of taking violent action against Califonia Native Americans, as well as supporting Burnett's idea of creating an exclusion law prohibiting African-Americans from entering California, McDougall favored Chinese immigration to meet the state's labor shortage and settle undeveloped lands. "[The Chinese are] one of the most worthy classes of our newly adopted citizens--to whom the climate and the character of these lands are peculiarly suited," the governor announced in an address to the State Legislature on January 7, 1852.[4]
McDougall's popularity peaked in the early days of his administration. Known for his earthy personality, McDougall's demeanor connected well with Sierra Nevada miners and Mexican-American War veterans. However, reoccuring drinking, gambling with Assembly and Senate members, and frequent quarrels over minor bureaucratic matters hurt his political career.[5] McDougall's political mannerisms were also of popular amusement. McDougall issued so many proclamations beginning as "I, John McDougall", that the Governor was soon known throughout the state as "I John."[6]
Towards the end of 1851, McDougall quarreled with the growing vigilante movement in San Francisco, openly condemning the movement's lynching of two criminals that year in a gubernatorial proclamation, citing its complete disregard of the city's municipal authorities.[7] However due to the infancy of state law enforcement, the proclamation went ignored. Bureaucratic frustration with San Francisco's vigilante movement would return again during the administration of Governor J. Neely Johnson five years later in 1856.
During the 1851 state general elections, the Democratic Party refused to renominate McDougall as the party's choice for Governor. Instead, state Democrats nominated Assembly Speaker John Bigler as their party's nominee.
[edit] Post political career
McDougall left the governorship on January 8, 1852 after completing the single two-year term left vacant by previous Governor Burnett. At the time, California governors served two-year terms, a limit that would not change until the 1860s. Just four days after leaving the state's highest office, McDougall was involved in a pistol duel with A.C. Russell, editor of the San Francisco Picayune. Russell's hand was injured in the duel. After attempting to start yet another duel with another individual who had insulted the ex-Governor, McDougall was arrested by the San Francisco Police. Ironically, while as Governor, McDougall had opposed legislation being drafted in the State Legislature that would have outlawed dueling, claiming that duelers were not fit to live, thereby with the continuation of dueling, they would eventually kill each other off.[8]
McDougall died in San Francisco on March 30, 1866 at the age of 48.
[edit] References
- ^ Biography and Inaugural Address - From the Government of California
- ^ California's State Capitols - From the California State Assembly
- ^ Yosemite At A Glance - From the National Park Service
- ^ Gunther Paul Barth (1964). Bitter Strength: A History of the Chinese in the United States, 1850-1870. ISBN 0674076001.
- ^ Judson A. Grenier (2003). "Officialdom": California State Government, 1849-1879. California History.
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- ^ Judson A. Grenier (2003). "Officialdom": California State Government, 1849-1879. California History.
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[edit] External links
| Preceded by Peter Burnett |
Governors of California 1851-1852 |
Succeeded by John Bigler |
| Preceded by — |
Lieutenant Governors of California 1849—1851 |
Succeeded by David C. Broderick |
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| Burnett • McDougall • Bigler • J. Johnson • Weller • Latham • Downey • Stanford • Low • Haight • Booth • Pacheco • Irwin • Perkins • Stoneman • Bartlett • Waterman • Markham • Budd • Gage • Pardee • Gillett • H. Johnson • Stephens • Richardson • Young • Rolph • Merriam • Olson • Warren • Knight • P. Brown • Reagan • J. Brown • Deukmejian • Wilson • Davis • Schwarzenegger |  |
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