List of governors of California before 1850

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 Californios Juan 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.

Spanish rule (1769–1822)

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)

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.	Governor	Took office	Left office	Notes
1st	Gaspar de Portolá (1716–1786)	1767	1770	Led the Portolá expedition Founded Monterey
2nd	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 Junípero Serra
3rd	Fernando Rivera y Moncada (1725–1781)	1774	1777	Founded San Francisco
4th	Felipe de Neve (1724–1784)	1777	1782	Founded Los Angeles Founded San Jose
5th	Pedro Fages (1734–1794)	1782	1791	Fages previously served as the acting military governor of Alta California from 1770 to 1774, during Barri's tenure, prior to officially serving as Governor of the Californias
6th	José Antonio Roméu (1734–1794)	1791	1792	Romeu died soon after his appointment, prior to officially ending his tenure of office.
Interim	José Joaquín de Arrillaga (1750–1814)	1792	1794	Arrillaga was designated as interim governor following the death of Roméu in 1792, until the appointment of Borica in 1794.
7th	Diego de Borica (1742–1800)	1794	1800	Founded Branciforte
Interim	Pedro de Alberní y Teixidor (1742–1800)	1800	1800	Alberní served as interim governor following Borica's resignation and prior to Arrillaga's appointment.
8th	José Joaquín 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)

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.

No.	Governor	Took office	Left office	Notes
1st	José Joaquín 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	José Darío Argüello (1753–1828)	1814	1815	Argüello was served as interim governor following the death of Arrillaga and prior to the appointment of Solá.
2nd	Pablo Vicente de Solá (1753–1828)	1815	1822	Solá successfully oversaw the transition of Alta California from Spanish rule to newly independent Mexico.

Mexican rule (1822–1846)

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)

No.	Governor	Took office	Left office	Notes
3rd	Luis Antonio Argüello (1784–1830)	1822	1825	First governor to be born in California
4th	José María de Echeandía (1800s–1871)	1825	1831	Echeandía issued the Prevenciónes 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	José María de Echeandía (1800s–1871)	1832	1833	Echeandía served as interim governor following Victoria's defeat at the Battle of Cahuenga Pass, prior to the appointment of Figueroa in 1833.
6th	José Figueroa (1792–1835)	1833	1835	Figueroa oversaw the secularization of the California missions.
Interim	José Castro (1808–1860)	1835	1836	Castro was nominated as interim governor after Figuroa resigned due to his worsening health.
Interim	Nicolás Gutiérrez (1700s–1800s)	1836	1836	Gutiérrez 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	Nicolás Gutiérrez (1700s–1800s)	1836	1836	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)

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.

No.	Portrait	Governor	Took office	Left office	Notes
1st		Juan Bautista Alvarado (1809–1882)	1836	1837	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)

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.	Governor	Took office	Left office	Notes
Nominated	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	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	Manuel Micheltorena (1804–1853)	1842	1845	Micheltorena was deposed as governor after his defeat at the Battle of Providencia
10th	Pío 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	José María 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 Domínguez, Flores was unable to reestablish Mexican rule following his defeat at the Battle of Rio San Gabriel and the Battle of La Mesa.
Nominated	Andrés Pico (1810–1876)	1847	1847	Pico served as Acting Governor for three days before signing the Treaty of Cahuenga, ending the Conquest of California

American rule

Following 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)

No.	Governor	Took office	Left office	Notes
1st	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	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	John C. Frémont (1813–1890)	1847	1847	Frémont was appointed by Stockton as his successor in 1847. Following Frémont's leadership in the mutiny of the California Battalion, he was court martialed and removed as military governor.
4th	Stephen W. Kearny (1794–1848)	1847	1847	Kearny succeeded Frémont as military governor, following Frémont's conviction for mutiny.
5th	Richard Barnes Mason (1797–1850)	1847	1849	Mason served as military governor during the outbreak of the California Gold Rush
6th	Persifor Frazer Smith (1798–1858)	February 28, 1849	April 12, 1849^[3]	Smith's brief tenure as military governor was marked by his efforts to support settlers travelling across the Sierra Nevada.
7th	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 California

References

^ Robert R. Miller (1998). Juan Alvarado, Governor of California, 1836–1842. University of Oklahoma Press.
^ "Memoria Política de México".
^ Bandini, Helen Elliott (1908). History of California. New York: American Book Company. p. 292. Retrieved 5 May 2024.

Bibliography

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

[1] Robert R. Miller (1998). Juan Alvarado, Governor of California, 1836–1842. University of Oklahoma Press.

[2] "Memoria Política de México".

[3] Bandini, Helen Elliott (1908). History of California. New York: American Book Company. p. 292. Retrieved 5 May 2024.

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v t e Governors of California
Under Spain (1769–1822)	Capt. Portolá Col. Fages Capt. Rivera Capt-Gen. de Neve Col. Fages Capt. Roméu Capt. Arrillaga Col. Bórica Lt. Col. Alberní Capt. Arrillaga Capt. J. Argüello Don Solá
Under Mexico (1822–1846)	Capt. L. Argüello Lt. Col. Echeandía Gen. Victoria Don P. Pico Lt. Col. Echeandía Brig. Gen. Figueroa Lt. Col. Castro Lt. Col. Gutiérrez Col. Chico Lt. Col. Gutiérrez Pres. Alvarado · Carrillo (rival) Brig. Gen. Micheltorena Don P. Pico
Under U.S. military (1846–1850)	Cdre. Sloat Cdre. Stockton · Gen. Flores (rival) Gen. Kearny · Maj. Frémont (mutineer) Gen. Mason Gen. Smith Gen. Riley
U.S. state (since 1850)	Burnett McDougal 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 J. Brown Newsom
Before 1850 Since 1850 By education Spouses