|
Cristobal Aguilar (1815 – April 11, 1883) was a pioneer of Los Angeles, California politics in the early days of American rule. He was the last Latino mayor of the City until Antonio Villaraigosa took office in 2005. April 5-12: Mount Tambora explodes, changing climate. ...
April 11 is the 101st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (102nd in leap years). ...
1883 (MDCCCLXXXIII) was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ...
Nickname: City of Angels Location within Los Angeles County in the state of California Coordinates: State California County Los Angeles County - Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa Area - City 498. ...
This article deals with the use of the term Latino. ...
Antonio Ramon Villaraigosa (born Antonio Ramon Villar, Jr. ...
Background
José Cristóbal Aguilar was born in 1815 in present day Los Angeles, which was then located in the Viceroyalty of New Spain (Virreinato de Nueva España). His parents were José María Aguilar and María Ygnacia Elizalde. The Aguilars lived in a spacious adobe located on what is now North Main Street. This old adobe was a prominent landmark that later served two important, but very different functions. The first was as the town calabrozo or jail, and then as the town's first hospital in 1858. Nickname: City of Angels Location within Los Angeles County in the state of California Coordinates: State California County Los Angeles County - Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa Area - City 498. ...
This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...
On October 30, 1848 Aguilar married the former Maria Dolores Yorba at the San Gabriel Mission just east of Los Angeles. His wife was the daughter of José Antonio de los Remidios Yorba and María Catalina Verdugo. One of the most prominent ranchero families in Alta California, the Yorbas possessed vast land holdings including most of the Santa Ana Valley (in present-day Orange County, California). Mission San Gabriel Arcángel was founded on The Feast of the Birth of Mary (September 8) in 1771. ...
This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...
Cristóbal and Dolores had five children, which were as follows:
- Librada, a daughter born in 1850
- José, born in 1851
- Matias, a second son born in 1858
- Guadalupe, born in 1860
- Rosa, born in 1863
Jose Aguilar was a Cuban boxer, who won a Light Welterweight Bronze medal at the 1980 Summer Olympics. ...
Political Life After Alta California became part of the United States, Aguilar made a name for himself in local government. When the Mexican ayuntamento system was abolished in favor of an American mayor and city council system in 1850, Aguilar was among the first members of the Los Angeles Common Council, the predecessor of the Los Angeles City Council. He served several non-consecutive terms from 1850 until the early 1860s. He was also elected several times to the office of county supervisor. The Los Angeles City Council meets three times a week in city hall. ...
Aguilar was first elected mayor on May 7, 1866. The election was certified three days later and he assumed office that same day. One of his earliest accomplishments was the establishment of a park site, which later became known as Pershing Square. However, all was not rosy in city hall. Pershing Square Signed into being by Los Angeles mayor Cristobal Aguilar as a park in 1866. ...
In a bit of political maneuvering, Aguilar was unseated for three months in the middle of his first term and replaced by Damien Marchesseault. During that time he served as zanjero or Water Overseer. Being in a desert with risks of both drought and flooding a constant threat, this position was actually considered more important than the mayor and paid the highest salary of any city official at the time. On August 8, 1867, Aguilar was re-instated as mayor and served the remainder of his term. His decision in 1868 to retain control over the city's water rights and reserves is considered one of the most important in Los Angeles' history. Damien Marchessault (or Marchesseau) (April 1, 1818 – January 20, 1868) was Mayor of Los Angeles, California from May 9, 1859 to May 9, 1860 and then again from December 27, 1860 to January 7, 1861. ...
The Water Overseer or zanjero of Los Angeles was a position considered more important than the mayor. ...
In 1868, Aguilar lost re-election to Joel Turner and was subsequently appointed as Water Overseer once again. After resigning his post, Aguilar challenged Joel Turner again in 1870, defeating him this time. He served until 1872, when he lost decisively to James R. Toberman, who made Aguilar's limited English an issue in the race. Joel Turner is a Brisbane rapper best known for the Australian hit song These Kids. He first appeared on the 2003 season of Australian Idol where he drew attention for his beatbox skills. ...
The Water Overseer or zanjero of Los Angeles was a position considered more important than the mayor. ...
James R. Toberman (1836 - January 26, 1911) served two non-consecutive terms as mayor of Los Angeles, California. ...
A year later, Aguilar received still another appointment as Water Overseer and served until December 5, 1878. During the period of December 9, 1875 through December 6, 1877, it is not clear whether Aguilar or anyone served in that capacity because the position is not addressed in the council minutes.
Later years After retiring from politics Aguilar wrote for La Cronica, the City's leading Spanish-language newspaper at the time. In the paper, he wrote a regular column on local community issues. He died of heart disease on April 11, 1883 at the age of 68. April 11 is the 101st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (102nd in leap years). ...
1883 (MDCCCLXXXIII) was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ...
References - Chronological Record of Los Angeles City Officials: 1850—1938, Compiled under Direction of Municipal Reference Library City Hall, Los Angeles March 1938 (Reprinted 1966)
External links - Estrada, William. "The Last Latino Mayor of Los Angeles: Jose Cristobal Aguilar, 1866-1868, 1871-1872," Center For Law In The Public Interest, June 30, 2005
- Schmal, John P. "The Four Latino Mayors of Los Angeles," HispanicVista, May 23, 2005
- Schmal, John P. "The Election of Cristobal Aguilar," LatinoLA, October 5, 2005
Preceded by
Stephen C. Foster | Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors
2nd district
1854—1857 | Succeeded by
William M. Stockton | Preceded by
Ralph Emerson | Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors
2nd district
1860—1861 | Succeeded by
Morris S. Goodman | Preceded by
José Mascarel | Mayor of Los Angeles, California
May 10, 1866—May 8, 1867 | Succeeded by
Damien Marchesseault | Preceded by
Jesus Cruz | Water Overseer of Los Angeles, California
May 23, 1867—August 8, 1867 | Succeeded by
Damien Marchesseault | Preceded by
Damien Marchesseault | Mayor of Los Angeles, California
August 8, 1867—December 7, 1868 | Succeeded by
Joel Turner | Preceded by
Charles Pleasant | Water Overseer of Los Angeles, California
December 21, 1868—March 1, 1869 | Succeeded by
Charles Pleasant | Preceded by
Joel Turner | Mayor of Los Angeles, California
December 9, 1870—December 5, 1872 | Succeeded by
James R. Toberman | Preceded by
James H. Easton | Water Overseer of Los Angeles, California
December 31, 1873—December 9, 1875 | Succeeded by
'Unknown or Vacant' | Preceded by
'Unknown or Vacant' | Water Overseer of Los Angeles, California
December 6, 1877—December 5, 1878 | Succeeded by
William P. Meinzer | |
Feeds |
Contact