was listed in the 1790 census as a mulata (Spanish-African). His paternal grandfather, Santiago de la Cruz Pico, was described as a mestizo (Native American-Spanish) in the same census. Santiago and María Jacinta were from the provinces of what are now Sinaloa and Sonora. was born at Mission San Gabriel Arcángel on May 5, 1801, to José María Pico and his wife María Eustaquia Gutiérrez, with the aid of midwife Eulalia Pérez de Guillén Mariné. He was the fourth of his parents' ten children, and their second son. At the Presidio of San Diego, José Antonio Carrillo, who later married Pico's sister Estéfana, taught Pico how to read. This would be important to his career, as California law required literacy among elected officials. Carrillo would have a great influence on Pico's youth and political rise.
He took an interest in his father's work, and in 1815, he was temporarily placed in charge of the mission guards by local officials while his father was away. and the family moved back to San Gabriel. He became a merchant, selling liquor, groceries, and dry goods. In 1827, Portillà charged merchant Luis Brigas with misappropriation of funds, and brought the matter to a military tribunal. Brigas defended himself by stating that, "the civilians were the sacred core of the nation and that the military were nothing more than servants". The response affected Pico so much that he broke the line of command and sided with Brigas, which resulted in Pico temporarily being placed in jail. The incident was the beginning of Pico's support for liberalism and the first major political event of his life. After receiving the ranch, Pico began stocking it with cattle and hiring workers to cultivate a cattle empire and become part of the landowning elite.
By 1831, Pico was the primer vocal of the diputación, being its most senior member. Victoria began ignoring the diputación's demands, such as one instance when Pico demanded Victoria meet with him, which Victoria considered a person attack, and stated that he would decide when the diputación would meet. In a government circular on September 31 that year, Victoria stated his intention to end Echeandía's secularization policies, and accused the diputados (diputación members) of being illegally elected. He then suspended it entirely. In late September, Pico wrote a contestación (a response) to Victoria's circular, stating that the diputación had the right to rebel against the governor, and argued against the expulsions and the nullification of local elections and diputados. He portrayed himself as a patriot defending Mexican law, and in bandos (pronouncements that posted on public buildings), he instilled the image of himself as a fighter for the liberty of common citizens. His prominent position gave his manifesto public weight.
Pico received word from Carrillo that Victoria planned to kill him and Bandini. Victoria also dismissed Bandini from his political position around that time. Pico responded by building an opposition including many of the most influential Southern Californians, such as Carrillo, Bandini, and Stearns. They met at Pico's Rancho Jamul to gather information on Victoria's forces and plan an armed revolt. At the same time, Victoria informed the federal government of his suspension of the diputación and his plans for military rule. With the diputación no longer recognized federally, the group chose to send Pico to Los Angeles to recruit influential men in the city to their cause. He found many of them imprisoned, but was still able to speak with them, and although he didn't get all the support he hoped for, he did find a significant amount.
1831 revolt
After less than two months of planning, on November 29, 1831, Pico, Carrillo, and Bandini issued the Plan de San Diego, which placed them in open rebellion against Victoria. It accused Victoria of violating the law by issuing banishments without trial and of "promoting illegal arrests" in Los Angeles. It announced the suspension of Victoria as governor and military commandant and called for a legally elected interim official to run the government and military. On November 30, a group of 15 armed men, including Pico, Carrillo, Bandini, and Stearns marched into San Diego and surprised its garrison. Pico placed his friend Argüello under arrest, as well as Ygnacio del Valle. Pico took them to the home of Portillà, who had been arrested by Bandini, and the rebels attempted to convince the captured officers to join their rebellion. They refused, but promised to take no action against Pico's group for the remainder of the rebellion. The group released the officers, who allowed the rebels to take artillery pieces from the barracks, and soldiers from the garrison began joining them. They then went to Los Angeles, where they stormed the prison, released all prisoners, and then arrested the alcalde Vicente Sánchez.
thumb|right|Pico's 1831 rebellion ended with a [[Battle of Cahuenga Pass|battle located at Cahuenga Pass, which is pictured above in 1888.]]
The rebellion was gaining public support, and its success convinced Portillà and Argüello to join on the condition that Echeandía lead it. Although he had little involvement prior, Echeandía agreed. This gave further legitimacy to the rebels, and more officers and soldiers joined them. In early December, Echeandía led his force of about 50 men into Los Angeles. The two groups met in Cahuenga Pass, with Victoria's force of about 30 against Pico and Echeandía's 150. The following battle was short. Pico's side gained the upper hand, with Victoria being critically wounded while retreating. on January 27. Echeandía was able to assume the governorship on February 18. She was the daughter of sergeant Francisco Javier Alvarado. His son, Francisco Javier II, was alcalde of Los Angeles and had married Pico's sister María Tomasa Pico in 1829. The reception was held across the street at the home of his brother-in-law José Antonio Carrillo. That year, Pico ran to become alcalde of San Diego, but on December 21, he lost to Juan María Osuna.
In 1837, Pico was the godfather at the baptism of John "Juan" Forster, an English-born immigrant who converted to Catholicism and became a Mexican citizen to own land. The two men would later refer to this event when asking each other for political favors. Forster would soon after marry Pico's sister Isidora Ygnacia Pico, making Forster his son-in-law as well.
Mission San Luis Rey and Alvarado governorship
thumb|left|[[Mission San Luis Rey de Francia, which Pico became comisionado of in 1835. He sought to profit off of it, and became known for his cruel and authoritative treatment of the natives there.]]
In 1835, Pico became the comisionado of Mission San Luis Rey de Francia, which may have been influenced by his friendship with Figueroa.
Pico also threatened to resign from the mission unless mission inspector general William Hartnell helped him round up fugitive Luiseños. Hartnell interviewed them, and learned of their complaints against Pico, including that his wasteful spending left them without necessities such as clothing. Hartnell then recommended that Alvarado discharge Pico, which he did. Pico fought against his dismissal, but to no avail, then paid off his debt to the mission of $170.00, and left in 1840. In late 1840, Pico made another attempt to gain Temecula, but instead Alvarado gave him Rancho Santa Margarita,
In 1842, Pico, still encargado de justicia, declared the land around Las Flores too arid for further settlement, which opened it for his ranching operations. He purchased Las Flores in 1844, and made his brother Andrés a co-recipient of the land. The two oversaw on the land the construction of a corral and an adobe house that they used to entertain guests and conduct business. Thanks to lands from Mission San Luis Rey, Pico's herds had grown, and his two ranches had made him wealthy.
Juan Bautista Alvarado, the governor who had been forcibly replaced by Micheltorena, organized a rebellion against Micheltorena. Upon learning of the impending revolt, Micheltorena appointed John Sutter to lead troops in opposition. Sutter came to John Marsh, who had one of the largest ranchos in California, hoping he would join. Marsh wanted no part of it, but Sutter forced him to join his army against his will.
When U.S. troops occupied Los Angeles and San Diego in 1846 during the Mexican–American War, Pico fled to Baja California, Mexico, to argue before the Mexican Congress for sending troops to defend Alta California. He was joined by his Secretary of State José Matías Moreno who traveled on Pico's behalf to request arms, munitions, men, and money. Pico did not return to Los Angeles until after the signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, and he reluctantly accepted the transfer of sovereignty.
Return to California
Automatically granted United States citizenship, he was elected to the Los Angeles Common Council in 1853, but he did not assume office.
Pico helped establish the California Republican Party, allying with the larger Republican Party due to his anti-slavery stances.
Business life
thumb|right|Pío Pico at the age of 67 in 1868.
John Bidwell, an early California settler, mentioned Pico among the people he knew:
<blockquote>Los Angeles I first saw in March 1845. It then had probably 250 people, of whom I recall Don Abel Stearns, John Temple, Captain Alexander Bell, William Wolfskill, Lemuel Carpenter, David W. Alexander; also of Mexicans, Pio Pico (governor), Don Juan Bandini, and others.</blockquote>
By the 1850s Pico was one of the richest men in Alta California. In 1850 he purchased the Rancho Paso de Bartolo, which included half of present-day Whittier. Two years later, he built a home on the ranch and lived there until 1892. It is preserved today as Pio Pico State Historic Park. Pico also owned the former Mission San Fernando Rey de España, Rancho Santa Margarita y Las Flores (now part of Camp Pendleton), and several other ranchos for a total of over .
In 1868, he constructed the three-story, 33-room hotel, Pico House (Casa de Pico) on the old plaza of Los Angeles, opposite today's Olvera Street. At the time of its opening in 1869, it was the most lavish hotel in Southern California. Even before 1900, however, both the hotel and the surrounding neighborhood had begun to decline, as the business center moved farther south. After decades as a shabby flophouse, the hotel was deeded to the State of California in 1953. It is now a part of El Pueblo de Los Angeles State Historic Monument. It is used on occasion for exhibits and special events.
Later life
thumb|left|Pío de Jesús Pico later in life
Following the American annexation of California, Pico dedicated himself to his businesses.
He survived the American conquest of California, becoming one of the wealthiest California cattlemen, controlling more than . He defended his position and fortune in over 100 legal cases, including 20 that were argued before the California Supreme Court.
thumb|right|[[Pico House, located on the Plaza de Los Ángeles.]]
However, gambling, losses to loan sharks, bad business practices, being a victim of fraud, and the flood of 1883 ruined him financially. For example, in 1893, Pico made an arrangement with Bernard Cohn in which Cohn paid Pico more than $60,000 in exchange for a deed to Pico's property in Los Angeles and elsewhere in the county. Pico sued Cohn, but lost on appeal. The decision, Pico v. Cohn (1891) 91 Cal. 129, 133-134, is classically cited by California appellate courts in cases having to do with the setting aside of a judgment in case of fraud.
Pico was forced to liquidate his real estate holdings and his final years were spent in near poverty. In 1893, a committee of local boosters and history enthusiasts asked him to appear at the Chicago World's Columbian Exposition as "the last of the California "dons". Pico refused, considering it an affront to his dignity. He died in 1894 at the home of his daughter, Joaquina Pico Moreno, in Los Angeles. He was buried in the old Calvary Cemetery on North Broadway in Downtown Los Angeles, but his remains, as well as those of his wife, were relocated in 1921 to a modest tomb in El Campo Santo Cemetery, now in the Homestead Museum in the City of Industry.
Personal life
thumb|right|Don Pio Pico, his wife Maria Ignacia Alvarado, and two nieces, Maraneto Alvarado and Trinidad de la Guerra
Pico's wife María Ignacia Alvarado died on February 21, 1854, in Santa Barbara. Pico never acknowledged any children with her or anyone else, The mixed martial artist Aaron Pico is reportedly Pío Pico's great-great-great-great grandson.
Pico, a Spanish speaker, never learned English, which would become an important factor in his lawsuit against Juan Forster.
Pico held three different nationalities during his lifetime. He was born a Spaniard in New Spain, became a Mexican citizen as a young man, and finally a United States citizen. He was known for his extravagant lifestyle, with fine clothes, expensive furnishings, and heavy gambling.
In 2010, scientists published an article about Pio Pico asserting that he showed signs of acromegaly, a disease not characterized until later in the nineteenth century. Pico Boulevard, a major east–west thoroughfare in Los Angeles, is named for him. Pico-Roberston, Pico Park, Pico/Rimpau, and Pico/Aliso Gardens bear his name. The city of Pico Rivera is also named after him. Pico station and Pico/Aliso station are stops on the Los Angeles Metro Rail. The 300-megawatt Pio Pico Energy Center has natural gas-fired combustion turbine generators in Otay Mesa, San Diego, starting in 2016.
Pío Pico State Historic Park is the historic site of Governor Pico's Rancho Paso de Bartolo, made up of his adobe mansion and ranching estate. The site, located in Whittier, California, was opened to the public in 1927 and is operated by California State Parks.
Pico House, located on the Los Angeles Plaza, is a historic site in Downtown Los Angeles, now part of the El Pueblo de Los Ángeles Historical Monument.
Notes
References
Bibliography
Further reading
External links
- Biography from the San Diego Historical Society excerpted from Smythe's History of San Diego (1907)
- "What made Pio Pico so, well, ugly?" - Los Angeles Times
- "Pio Pico" - Whittier Museum
- "The Life and Times of Pío Pico, Last Governor of Mexican California" - KCET
- Pío Pico papers, 1845-1846 at The Bancroft Library
- , C-SPAN Video Library