John McDougal (c. 1818 – March 30, 1866) was an American politician who served as the second governor of California from January 9, 1851, until January 8, 1852. Prior to this, he served from 1849 to 1851 as the first lieutenant governor of California.

Born to a political family in Ohio, McDougal immigrated to California in 1849 aboard the S.S. California after serving in the Mexican–American War. After participating in the California Gold Rush, McDougal entered early California politics as an attendee of the 1849 constitutional convention in Monterey. Elected lieutenant governor in 1849, he succeeded 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 Californians during the California Indian Wars. McDougal signed legislation to move the state capital from San Jose to Vallejo in 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 Union, Ohio ca. 1818 to John McDougall, an Ohio state representative from 1813 to 1815, and Margaret Stockton. The family produced four other sons: William Creighton McDougall, married to abolitionist Frances Harriet Whipple Green McDougall; Dr. Charles McDougall, also known as Charles Dougall, surgeon in the U.S. Army; Admiral David McDougal, commander of during the Battle of Shimonoseki; and George P. McDougal, California and Colorado pioneer. He later re-enlisted in the 5th Indiana Volunteer Infantry Regiment.

In 1848, after the Mexican–American War, McDougal moved to California, arriving in 1849 aboard S.S. California with his wife Jane and their daughter Sue. He worked as a miner and then a merchant during the gold rush. Shortly after his arrival, he entered into the new territory's politics, attending the first constitutional convention in Monterey in 1849. McDougal was one of the original signers of the Constitution of California. During the convention, McDougal was nominated for lieutenant governor, whereupon he remarked, "I reckon I'll take that. I don't believe anyone else will have it." After defeating five other contenders for the office, McDougal was sworn in as the state's first lieutenant governor in December 1849, along with Peter Burnett as the state's first governor.

Governorship

Due to widespread discontent with his administration by the California State Legislature and press, Burnett resigned from the governorship in early January 1851. McDougal assumed the post on January 9. He had limited prior experience in elected office. In one of his first acts, McDougal signed legislation sponsored by state senator and former Mexican general Mariano Vallejo on February 4 to move the capitol from San Jose to Vallejo. The legislature convened in Vallejo in January 1852 but found no usable capitol had been built; after twelve days it relocated to Sacramento for the remainder of the session, and the capital ultimately moved to Benicia in 1853 before settling permanently in Sacramento in 1854.

In the first weeks of his governorship, McDougal 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 Yokuts tribes opposing encroachment on their land. In late January, he authorized the creation of the 200-man Mariposa Battalion, a state militia unit, to tackle natives he believed were in open rebellion against the state government. In the ensuing conflict, which left an unknown number of Indigenous people and several militiamen dead,

While McDougal continued the Burnett administration's policies of violent action against California Native Americans and support for exclusion laws barring African Americans from the state, he favored Chinese immigration as a source of agricultural labor, declaring in his January 7, 1852, address to the State Legislature 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." His successor, Governor John Bigler, reversed this position within months, calling on the legislature in April 1852 to restrict Chinese immigration.

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. 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. McDougal died of apoplexy in San Francisco on March 30, 1866, at approximately 48 years of age. Along with J. Neely Johnson, he is one of the youngest California 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 San Francisco ordered the closure of its cemeteries and the removal of remains between 1939 and 1941, his remains were transferred to the Laurel Hill Mound at Cypress Lawn Memorial Park in Colma, California, dedicated in 1954.

John Eldredge was cast as Governor McDougal in "The Blonde King," a 1959 episode of the 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.

References

  • John McDougall biography at the California State Library