John McDougal

John McDougal (born 1818 in Ross County , Ohio , † March 30, 1866 in San Francisco , California ; also John McDougall ) was the first lieutenant governor and second governor of the state of California.

Entry into politics

Little is known about the time before his entry into California. McDougal was one of the adventurers who ended up in California in search of gold in 1848 . Soon after his arrival, he took an active part in the political life of his new home. In 1849 he was one of the signatories to the California constitution. At the following electoral convention he was nominated as a candidate for the office of lieutenant governor. After winning the election, he and the new Governor Peter Burnett were introduced to their respective offices in December 1849.

Governor of California

Governor Burnett had to resign on January 9, 1851 after a little over a year under political pressure from the press and the State House of Representatives and McDougal was promoted to governor according to the state constitution. However, it now became apparent that he lacked any practical political experience. One of his first acts was to move the capital from San José to Vallejo, 40 miles north . In January 1851 there was an uprising among the local Indians. McDougal set up a 200-man militia. This so-called Mariposa Battalion remained victorious, as expected, but there were 42 dead. In this context, the area of what would later become Yosemite National Park was discovered.

Regarding the Indians and African Americans, the governor continued his predecessor's racist policies. However, he supported the wave of immigration from China . The Chinese should address the labor shortage in the country and also populate unpopulated land. At the beginning of his tenure he was relatively popular in his state. But soon some cracks appeared in relation to his political environment. Quarrels over minor issues, a rampant bureaucracy and an increasingly emerging alcohol problem led to constant political decline. He also had a habit of issuing too many proclamations, all starting with "Me, John McDougall ...". He made himself the mockery of his compatriots, who soon only called him "I, John" (I John).

Old age and death

When his re-election came in late 1851, the Democratic Party refused to nominate him again for the office of governor. His term of office ended in early January 1852. Back then, a California governor's term was limited to two years, which wasn't changed until the 1860s. Since he came into office in the middle of the legislative period for his resigned predecessor, his actual term of office was correspondingly shorter at just under a year. After 1852 he disappeared more and more from the limelight and ran for no more public office. He fell into depression and alcohol. According to some information, he should have tried to commit suicide several times. He finally died on March 30, 1866 in San Francisco at the age of 48.

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personal data
SURNAME	McDougal, John
BRIEF DESCRIPTION	American politician
DATE OF BIRTH	1818
PLACE OF BIRTH	Ross County , Ohio
DATE OF DEATH	March 30, 1866
Place of death	San Francisco , California