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Portrait of Governor John Weller

John Weller

5th Governor, Democrat
(1858-1860)

- Short Biography
- Administration
- Personal information
- This Time in California

 

Biography*
John Weller studied law and served as District Attorney in Ohio, where he was born in 1812. He was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, served in the Mexican War, and was U.S. Commissioner of International Boundaries. ...[Later, after a scandal] he was removed from the commission by President Taylor. Somehow recovering from the scandal, Weller entered politics in California first serving as State Senator. As Governor, he intended to make California an independent republic if the North and South divided over slavery, and he personally led an assault on San Quentin Prison to take back possession of it from a commercial contractor. The most wed governor, Weller married four times.

top Administration under Governor John Weller

- Inaugural Address - January 8, 1858

top The Life of Governor John Weller

Born
February 22, 1812
Montgomery, Ohio

Died
August 17, 1875
New Orleans, Louisiana

Family
First Lady: Mrs. G. W. Staunton
Children: 2 sons

top This Time in California, the Nation, the World
1858 1859 1860
Butterfield Overland Stage begins

 

  Pony Express rider reaches San Francisco

San Francisco connected to Los Angeles by telegraph

State population - 379,994

 

     
     


* All Biographies excerpted fromThe Governors of California and their Portraits (see credits)
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