John McDougal

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For people with a similar name, see John McDougall.

John McDougal
Portrait of McDougal by William F. Cogswell
2nd Governor of California
In office
January 9, 1851 – January 8, 1852
LieutenantDavid C. Broderick (acting)
Preceded byPeter H. Burnett
Succeeded byJohn Bigler
1st Lieutenant Governor of California
In office
December 20, 1849 – January 9, 1851
GovernorPeter H. Burnett
Preceded byPosition established
Succeeded byDavid C. Broderick
Personal details
Bornc. 1818 (1818)
Union, Ohio, U.S.
Died (aged 47–48)
San Francisco, California, U.S.
Political partyIndependent Democrat
SpouseJane McDougal
Children5

John McDougal

first Lieutenant Governor of California
.

Born to a

California Gold Rush, McDougal would enter early California politics a year later as an attendee of the 1849 constitutional convention in Monterey. Entering the lieutenant governorship in 1849, he would succeed to the governorship following the early resignation of Peter Hardeman Burnett
.

As Governor, McDougal presided over the creation of the Mariposa Battalion, a state militia unit that killed over 40 indigenous native Californians during the California Indian Wars. McDougal signed legislation to move the state capital from San Jose to Vallejo in modern-day Solano County. After failing to secure the nomination of the California Democratic Party in the 1852 election, McDougal left office and never served in a political capacity for the rest of his life.

Biography

McDougal was born in

Battle of Shimonoseki;[6] and George P. McDougal, California and Colorado pioneer.[4]
The family later moved to Indianapolis.

In 1846 McDougal joined the Indiana Volunteer Infantry as a lieutenant in the 1st Indiana Volunteer Infantry Regiment and served in the Mexican–American War. He was soon elected as captain of Company H.[7] He later re-enlisted in the 5th Indiana Volunteer Infantry Regiment.

In 1848, after the Mexican–American War, McDougal moved to

Peter Burnett
as the state's first governor.

Governorship

Due to widespread discontent with his administration by the

Mariano Vallejo on February 4 to remove the capitol from its cramped quarters in San Jose forty miles north to Vallejo.[11]

In the first weeks of his governorship, McDougal was pressured by miners and residents in

Yosemite, while the local tribes ceased violent reprisals on the miner and trader population.[13]

While McDougal continued with the earlier policies of the Burnett administration in taking violent action against California

African-Americans from entering California, he favored Chinese immigration to meet the state's labor shortage and settle undeveloped lands, declaring in his address to the State Legislature on January 7, 1852, that the Chinese "were one of the most worthy classes of our newly adopted citizens, to whom the climate and the character of California were peculiarly suited."[14]

McDougal's popularity peaked in the early days of his administration. Known for his earthy personality, McDougal's demeanor connected well with Sierra Nevada miners and Mexican–American War veterans. However, recurring drinking, gambling with assembly and senate members, and frequent quarrels over minor bureaucratic matters hurt his political career.[15] McDougal's political mannerisms were also a source of popular amusement. McDougal issued so many proclamations beginning, "I, John McDougal," that the Governor was soon known throughout the state as "I John".

Towards the end of 1851, McDougal quarreled with the growing

vigilante movement in San Francisco. In a gubernatorial proclamation, he openly condemned the movement's lynching of two criminals that year, citing its complete disregard of the city's municipal authorities.[15] State law enforcement was still in its infancy, however, and his proclamation was ignored. Bureaucratic frustration with San Francisco's vigilante movement would return again during the administration of Governor J. Neely Johnson
five years later.

During the 1851 state general elections, the

Democratic Party refused to renominate McDougal as the party's choice for governor. Instead, state Democrats nominated Assembly Speaker John Bigler
as their party's nominee.

Post-political career

McDougal left office 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 governorship of

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, McDougal was arrested by the San Francisco police. As governor, McDougal had opposed state legislation that would have outlawed dueling, remarking duelers were not fit to live and would eventually kill each other off.[9]

Never taken as a serious political candidate again, McDougal fell out of public view after 1852. The former governor increasingly turned to

depression. According to some accounts, McDougal attempted suicide on several occasions.[16] McDougal died in San Francisco on March 30, 1866, at the age of 48. Along with J. Neely Johnson, McDougal is one of the youngest governors to die after leaving office. He was buried in Laurel Hill Cemetery in San Francisco, sharing a plot with his brother David McDougal. When this cemetery was removed from San Francisco, his remains were moved to the Laurel Hill Mound of Cypress Lawn Memorial Park in Colma, California
.

syndicated anthology series Death Valley Days, hosted by Stanley Andrews. In the storyline, James D. Savage (Lane Bradford) has made many friends among Indians of the Yosemite region. When John Trask (Brad Johnson) threatens to disrupt the peace, Savage must stop him. Robert Brubaker played Major Warren.[17]

References

  1. ^ "The Governors' Gallery". California State Library. Retrieved November 25, 2017.
  2. ^ Ohio General Assembly (1917). Legislative Manual of the State of Ohio. p. 258.
  3. OCLC 600014896
    . Retrieved September 20, 2011.
  4. ^ a b O'Dowd, Sarah C. (2004). A Rhode Island Original: Frances Harriet Whipple Green McDougall. University Press of New England. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved November 25, 2017.
  5. ^ "Historical Databases". Ruth Lilly Medical Library. Indiana University School of Medicine. Retrieved November 25, 2017.
  6. ^ "Naval Movements.; PROGRESS OF LOCAL MEN OF WAR. Published: April 30, 1864". New York Times. April 30, 1864. Retrieved March 29, 2016.
  7. ^ William Robeson Holloway (1870). Indianapolis: A Historical and Statistical Sketch of the Railroad City. Indianapolis Journal Print.
  8. ^ Sandra L. Myres. Ho for California!. Huntington Library Press.
  9. ^ a b California State Library. "Governor John McDougall of California". State of California. Archived from the original on April 21, 2007. Retrieved May 9, 2007.
  10. ^ Bandini, Helen Elliott (1908). History of California. American Book Company. p. 292.
  11. ^ The Office of the Assembly Chief Clerk (May 2000). "California's State Capitols" (PDF). Second Edition. State of California. Archived from the original (.PDF) on June 11, 2007. Retrieved May 9, 2007. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  12. ^ David A. Smith. "California and the Indian Wars: The Mariposa War". The California State Military Museum Foundation. Retrieved May 9, 2007.
  13. ^ "Yosemite at a Glance". National Park Service. December 22, 2004. Retrieved May 9, 2007.
  14. OCLC 242460
    .
  15. ^
    OCLC 108243065
    .
  16. ^ Theodore H. Hittell (1898) [1885]. History of California. Vol. IV. N. J. Stone. pp. 87 to 88.
  17. ^ "The Blonde King on Death Valley Days". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved September 28, 2018.

External links

Political offices
Preceded by
Position established
Lieutenant Governor of California

1849–1851 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
Governor of California

1851–1852 		Succeeded by
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