Below is a list of the governors of early California (1769–1850), before its admission as the 31st U.S. state. First explored by Gaspar de Portolá, with colonies established at San Diego and Monterey, California was a remote, sparsely-settled Spanish province of New Spain. In 1822, following Mexican independence, California became part of Mexico.
In 1836, a coup led by CaliforniosJuan Bautista Alvarado and José Castro eventually resulted in Alvarado becoming governor.[1] That conflict ended in 1838, when the central government of Mexico recognized Alvarado as California Governor. The territorial diputación (legislature) approved the appointment.
Another disputed governorship occurred in 1844, settled when another Californio, Pio Pico, became the last Governor of Mexican California. In 1846, the "Bear Flag Revolt" in Sonoma declared California an independent republic—the "Bear Flag Republic". No government was formed, however, and the revolt did not have time to spread very far because California came under U.S. military occupation at the outset of the Mexican–American War less than a month later. California was ceded to the U.S. in 1848, and was admitted as the 31st U.S. state on September 9, 1850. Peter Burnett, the last governor of the post-war military territory, became its first state governor after admission.
The Spanish Empire established its rule in the Californias in 1769. During this time, the Californias encompassed a massive territorial expanse, including both Alta California (present day U.S. state of California) and Baja California (present day Mexican states of Baja California and Baja California Sur), which were governed under a military administration led by the Governor of the Californias. In 1804, the Californias were officially divided into two administrations: Alta California, based in Monterey, and Baja California, based in Loreto.
Spanish governors of the Californias (1769–1804)edit
From 1769 to 1804, the Californias were governed as one administrative unit within the Spanish Empire. Following 1804, Alta California and Baja California each had their own administration.
While Barri officially served as Governor of the Californias, Fages maintained effective military control over Alta California, taking advantage of Barri's government being based in Baja California.
While Barri officially served as Governor of the Californias, Fages maintained effective military control over Alta California. Fages effectively stepped down as acting governor in 1774, at the request of Junípero Serra
Fages previously served as the acting military governor of Alta California from 1770-74, during Barri's tenure, prior to officially serving as Governor of the Californias
Arrillaga subsequently served as Governor of Alta California until his death in 1814.
Spanish governors of Alta California (1804–1822)edit
Following the division of the Californias in 1804, Alta California came to have its own administration. José Joaquín de Arrillaga, who had served as Governor of the Californias until 1804 subsequently served as the first governor of Alta California.
Following the Mexican War of Independence from the Spanish, both of the Californias became part of the newly-independent Mexico in 1822. Mexican rule was interrupted from 1836 to 1838 by the Californio independence movement led by Juan Bautista Alvarado, who was acclaimed President of Alta California. However, Alvarado entered into negotiations with the Mexican government in 1838, which resulted in the disbandment of the Californio independence movement in favor of greater autonomy and the appointment of Alvarado as governor, thus reestablishing Mexican rule in Alta California, which lasted until 1846.
Mexican governors of Alta California (1822–1836)edit
Victoria's tenure as governor was unpopular and short-lived, owing to his anti-democratic reforms. His governorship ended following his defeat at the Battle of Cahuenga Pass in 1831, when Californios overthrew him.
Gutiérrez resumed his role as interim governor after Chico's exile from California.
Gutiérrez was soon after deposed by a popular uprising of Californios led by Juan Bautista Alvarado, who declared independence from Mexico and launched a civil war in California.
President of Alta California (1836–1837)edit
Following the appointments of unpopular governors Gutiérrez and Chico, Juan Bautista Alvarado successfully led a popular uprising of Californios in 1836 which deposed Gutiérrez, proclaimed the independence of Alta California from Mexico, and named Alvarado as its president. Alvarado maintained effective control over California until he entered into negotiations with the Mexican central government in 1837, which resulted in the disbandment of Alta Californian independence in favor of greater autonomy from the Mexican government and recognition of Alvarado as Governor of Alta California.
Alvarado deposed interim governor Gutiérrez in an 1836 popular uprising of Californios against the Mexican central government and its appointed governors. Alvarado subsequently issued the declaración de la independencia de la Alta California (Declaration of Independence of Alta California), raised a new flag, and was acclaimed as President of Alta California.
Alvarado effectively ruled as President of Alta California from 1836 until he entered into negotiations with the Mexican central government in 1837, whereby he accepted to disband his independence movement in favor of recognition as Governor of Alta California by the Mexican central government and greater autonomy for the Californios.
Mexican governors of California (1837–47)edit
While Juan Bautista Alvarado maintained effective control as President of Alta California from 1836 to 1837, the Mexican central government appointed noted Californio statesman Carlos Antonio Carrillo as Governor of California[2] to lead the nationalist offensive against Alvarado. As Carrillo was unsuccessful, Alvarado and the Mexican central government negotiated an end to the civil war in Alta California, resulting in Alvarado's abandonment of independence in favor of greater autonomy and the governorship, thus reestablishing the continuity of Mexican governance over Alta California.
Carrillo was nominated as governor by the Mexican central government in 1837 to lead nationalists forces to subdue Alvarado's government and reestablish Mexican control over Alta California.
As Carrillo was unable to establish effective control over Alta California, the Mexican central government entered into negotiations with Alvarado resulting in his Carrillo's dismissal.
Following negotiations with the Mexican central government in 1837, Alvarado disbanded his independence movement and was appointed as governor, in exchange for greater autonomy for Californios.
Sloat was commander of the Pacific Squadron, which led the Conquest of California. Following his capture of Monterey, capital of Alta California, Sloat was served as the U.S. Military Governor of California for 22 days prior to the arrival of Stockton.
Riley successfully passed the administration of California to civilian control with the election of Peter Hardeman Burnett in 1849, who would serve as the 1st Governor of California
Irvine, Leigh H. (1905). "Vol. I, Chapter III". A History of The New California: Its Resources And People. New York: The Lewis Publishing Company. OCLC 35952214. Retrieved 2007-07-11.
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October 27, 2023
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For the governors of California since 1850 see List of governors of California Below is a list of the governors of early California 1769 1850 before its admission as the 31st U S state First explored by Gaspar de Portola with colonies established at San Diego and Monterey California was a remote sparsely settled Spanish province of New Spain In 1822 following Mexican independence California became part of Mexico Gaspar de Portola 1st Governor of the Californias Don Pio Pico last Governor of Alta California In 1836 a coup led by Californios Juan Bautista Alvarado and Jose Castro eventually resulted in Alvarado becoming governor 1 That conflict ended in 1838 when the central government of Mexico recognized Alvarado as California Governor The territorial diputacion legislature approved the appointment Another disputed governorship occurred in 1844 settled when another Californio Pio Pico became the last Governor of Mexican California In 1846 the Bear Flag Revolt in Sonoma declared California an independent republic the Bear Flag Republic No government was formed however and the revolt did not have time to spread very far because California came under U S military occupation at the outset of the Mexican American War less than a month later California was ceded to the U S in 1848 and was admitted as the 31st U S state on September 9 1850 Peter Burnett the last governor of the post war military territory became its first state governor after admission Contents 1 Spanish rule 1769 1822 1 1 Spanish governors of the Californias 1769 1804 1 2 Spanish governors of Alta California 1804 1822 2 Mexican rule 1822 1846 2 1 Mexican governors of Alta California 1822 1836 2 2 President of Alta California 1836 1837 2 3 Mexican governors of California 1837 47 3 American rule 3 1 U S military governors of California 1846 1849 4 See also 5 References 5 1 Bibliography 6 External linksSpanish rule 1769 1822 editThe Spanish Empire established its rule in the Californias in 1769 During this time the Californias encompassed a massive territorial expanse including both Alta California present day U S state of California and Baja California present day Mexican states of Baja California and Baja California Sur which were governed under a military administration led by the Governor of the Californias In 1804 the Californias were officially divided into two administrations Alta California based in Monterey and Baja California based in Loreto Spanish governors of the Californias 1769 1804 edit From 1769 to 1804 the Californias were governed as one administrative unit within the Spanish Empire Following 1804 Alta California and Baja California each had their own administration No Portrait Governor Took office Left office Notes1st nbsp Gaspar de Portola 1716 1786 1767 1770 Led the Portola expedition Founded Monterey2nd Felipe de Barri 1700s 1784 1770 1774 While Barri officially served as Governor of the Californias Fages maintained effective military control over Alta California taking advantage of Barri s government being based in Baja California Acting Pedro Fages 1734 1794 1770 1774 While Barri officially served as Governor of the Californias Fages maintained effective military control over Alta California Fages effectively stepped down as acting governor in 1774 at the request of Junipero Serra3rd nbsp Fernando Rivera y Moncada 1725 1781 1774 1777 Founded San Francisco4th nbsp Felipe de Neve 1724 1784 1777 1782 Founded Los Angeles Founded San Jose5th Pedro Fages 1734 1794 1782 1791 Fages previously served as the acting military governor of Alta California from 1770 74 during Barri s tenure prior to officially serving as Governor of the Californias6th Jose Antonio Romeu 1734 1794 1791 1792 Romeu died soon after his appointment prior to officially ending his tenure of office Interim Jose Joaquin de Arrillaga 1750 1814 1792 1794 Arrillaga was designated as interim governor following the death of Romeu in 1792 until the appointment of Borica in 1794 7th Diego de Borica 1742 1800 1794 1800 Founded BranciforteInterim Pedro de Alberni y Teixidor 1742 1800 1800 1800 Alberni served as interim governor following Borica s resignation and prior to Arrillaga s appointment 8th Jose Joaquin de Arrillaga 1750 1814 1800 1804 Arrillaga was served as Governor of the Californias until 1804 when the Californias were administratively divided into Alta California and Baja California Arrillaga subsequently served as Governor of Alta California until his death in 1814 Spanish governors of Alta California 1804 1822 edit Following the division of the Californias in 1804 Alta California came to have its own administration Jose Joaquin de Arrillaga who had served as Governor of the Californias until 1804 subsequently served as the first governor of Alta California No Portrait Governor Took office Left office Notes1st Jose Joaquin de Arrillaga 1750 1814 1804 1814 Arrillaga was served as Governor of the Californias until 1804 when the Californias were administratively divided into Alta California and Baja California Arrillaga subsequently served as Governor of Alta California until his death in 1814 Interim Jose Dario Arguello 1753 1828 1814 1815 Arguello was served as interim governor following the death of Arrillaga and prior to the appointment of Sola 2nd Pablo Vicente de Sola 1753 1828 1815 1822 Sola successfully oversaw the transition of Alta California from Spanish rule to newly independent Mexico Mexican rule 1822 1846 editFollowing the Mexican War of Independence from the Spanish both of the Californias became part of the newly independent Mexico in 1822 Mexican rule was interrupted from 1836 to 1838 by the Californio independence movement led by Juan Bautista Alvarado who was acclaimed President of Alta California However Alvarado entered into negotiations with the Mexican government in 1838 which resulted in the disbandment of the Californio independence movement in favor of greater autonomy and the appointment of Alvarado as governor thus reestablishing Mexican rule in Alta California which lasted until 1846 Mexican governors of Alta California 1822 1836 edit No Portrait Governor Took office Left office Notes3rd nbsp Luis Antonio Arguello 1784 1830 1822 1825 First governor to be born in California4th Jose Maria de Echeandia 1800s 1871 1825 1831 Echeandia issued the Prevenciones de Emancipacion Proclamation of Emancipation declaring all Native Californians freed from Californian mission system in 1826 5th Manuel Victoria 1700s 1833 1831 1832 Victoria s tenure as governor was unpopular and short lived owing to his anti democratic reforms His governorship ended following his defeat at the Battle of Cahuenga Pass in 1831 when Californios overthrew him Interim Jose Maria de Echeandia 1800s 1871 1832 1833 Echeandia served as interim governor following Victoria s defeat at the Battle of Cahuenga Pass prior to the appointment of Figueroa in 1833 6th Jose Figueroa 1792 1835 1833 1835 Figueroa oversaw the secularization of the California missions Interim nbsp Jose Castro 1808 1860 1835 1836 Castro was nominated as interim governor after Figuroa resigned due to his worsening health Interim Nicolas Gutierrez 1700s 1800s 1836 1836 Gutierrez served as interim governor until the arrival of Chico 7th Mariano Chico 1796 1850 1836 1836 Chico was exiled after a popular uprising of Californios against his rule Interim Nicolas Gutierrez 1700s 1800s 1836 1836 Gutierrez resumed his role as interim governor after Chico s exile from California Gutierrez was soon after deposed by a popular uprising of Californios led by Juan Bautista Alvarado who declared independence from Mexico and launched a civil war in California President of Alta California 1836 1837 edit Following the appointments of unpopular governors Gutierrez and Chico Juan Bautista Alvarado successfully led a popular uprising of Californios in 1836 which deposed Gutierrez proclaimed the independence of Alta California from Mexico and named Alvarado as its president Alvarado maintained effective control over California until he entered into negotiations with the Mexican central government in 1837 which resulted in the disbandment of Alta Californian independence in favor of greater autonomy from the Mexican government and recognition of Alvarado as Governor of Alta California No Portrait Governor Took office Left office Notes1st nbsp Juan Bautista Alvarado 1809 1882 1836 1837 Alvarado deposed interim governor Gutierrez in an 1836 popular uprising of Californios against the Mexican central government and its appointed governors Alvarado subsequently issued the declaracion de la independencia de la Alta California Declaration of Independence of Alta California raised a new flag and was acclaimed as President of Alta California Alvarado effectively ruled as President of Alta California from 1836 until he entered into negotiations with the Mexican central government in 1837 whereby he accepted to disband his independence movement in favor of recognition as Governor of Alta California by the Mexican central government and greater autonomy for the Californios Mexican governors of California 1837 47 edit While Juan Bautista Alvarado maintained effective control as President of Alta California from 1836 to 1837 the Mexican central government appointed noted Californio statesman Carlos Antonio Carrillo as Governor of California 2 to lead the nationalist offensive against Alvarado As Carrillo was unsuccessful Alvarado and the Mexican central government negotiated an end to the civil war in Alta California resulting in Alvarado s abandonment of independence in favor of greater autonomy and the governorship thus reestablishing the continuity of Mexican governance over Alta California No Portrait Governor Took office Left office NotesNominated nbsp Carlos Antonio Carrillo 1783 1852 1837 1837 Carrillo was nominated as governor by the Mexican central government in 1837 to lead nationalists forces to subdue Alvarado s government and reestablish Mexican control over Alta California As Carrillo was unable to establish effective control over Alta California the Mexican central government entered into negotiations with Alvarado resulting in his Carrillo s dismissal 8th nbsp Juan Bautista Alvarado 1809 1882 1837 1842 Following negotiations with the Mexican central government in 1837 Alvarado disbanded his independence movement and was appointed as governor in exchange for greater autonomy for Californios 9th nbsp Manuel Micheltorena 1804 1853 1842 1845 Micheltorena was deposed as governor after his defeat at the Battle of Providencia10th nbsp Pio Pico 1801 1894 1845 1846 In the aftermath of the Battle of Providencia Pico was acclaimed governor Following the American Conquest of California the administration of Alta California came under control of the U S Military Governor of California Nominated Jose Maria Flores 1818 1866 1846 1847 Flores was nominated as governor following the outbreak of the Mexican American War and tasked with reclaiming Alta California for Mexico Despite victories at the Battle of Chino and the Battle of Rancho Dominguez Flores was unable to reestablish Mexican rule following his defeat at the Battle of Rio San Gabriel and the Battle of La Mesa American rule editFollowing the American Conquest of California forces part of the Pacific Squadron and California Battalion established U S military rule in California beginning in 1846 Military governors ruled California until 1849 when efforts led by Bennet C Riley led to the creation of the Constitution of California at the Constitutional Convention of Monterey and the establishment of civilian rule with the election of Peter Hardeman Burnett as the first Governor of California Soon after California was admitted as a state U S military governors of California 1846 1849 edit No Portrait Governor Took office Left office Notes1st nbsp John D Sloat 1781 1867 1846 1846 Sloat was commander of the Pacific Squadron which led the Conquest of California Following his capture of Monterey capital of Alta California Sloat was served as the U S Military Governor of California for 22 days prior to the arrival of Stockton 2nd nbsp Robert F Stockton 1795 1866 1846 1847 Stockton successfully defeated the Mexican forces attempting to reclaim Alta California at the Battle of Rio San Gabriel and Battle of La Mesa 3rd nbsp John C Fremont 1813 1890 1847 1847 Fremont was appointed by Stockton as his successor in 1847 Following Fremont s leadership in the mutiny of the California Battalion he was court martialed and removed as military governor 4th nbsp Stephen W Kearny 1794 1848 1847 1847 Kearny succeeded Fremont as military governor following Fremont s conviction for mutiny 5th nbsp Richard Barnes Mason 1797 1850 1847 1849 Mason served as military governor during the outbreak of the California Gold Rush6th nbsp Persifor Frazer Smith 1798 1858 1849 1849 Smith s brief tenure as military governor was marked by his efforts to support settlers travelling across the Sierra Nevada 7th nbsp Bennet C Riley 1787 1853 1849 1849 Riley s tenure as military governor was marked by his efforts to establish a civilian government and statehood in California The 1849 Constitutional Convention of Monterey drafted the first Constitution of California during his term Riley successfully passed the administration of California to civilian control with the election of Peter Hardeman Burnett in 1849 who would serve as the 1st Governor of CaliforniaSee also editGovernor of California List of governors of California since 1850 The Californias Alta CaliforniaReferences edit nbsp Wikisource has original text related to this article Declaration of Independence of California Robert R Miller 1998 Juan Alvarado Governor of California 1836 1842 University of Oklahoma Press Memoria Politica de Mexico Bibliography edit See also Bibliography of California history Irvine Leigh H 1905 Vol I Chapter III A History of The New California Its Resources And People New York The Lewis Publishing Company OCLC 35952214 Retrieved 2007 07 11 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Governors of California Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title List of governors of California before 1850 amp oldid 1174069354, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
