Juan Bautista Valentin Alvarado y Vallejo (February 14, 1809–July 13, 1882) was a Californio and Governor of Alta California from 1836 to 1842. February 14 is the 45th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1809 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... July 13th is the 194th day (195th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 171 days remaining. ... 1882 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... A Californio was a Spanish-speaking inhabitant of Alta California who lived there when it was a part of Mexico, before it was taken by the United States after the Mexican-American War. ... This is a list of pre-statehood governors of California. ... Alta California (Upper California) was formed in 1804 when the province of California, then a part of the Spanish colony of New Spain, was divided in two along the line separating the Franciscan missions in the north from the Dominican missions in the south. ... 1836 was a leap year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... 1842 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ...

Early life

He was born in Monterey, California, to Jose Francisco Alvarado and Maria Josefa Vallejo. His grandfather Juan Bautista Alvarado accompanied Gaspar de Portolà as an enlisted man in the Spanish Army in 1769. His father died a few months after his birth and his mother remarried three years later, leaving Juan Bautista in the care of his grandparents, the Vallejo family. He and Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo grew up together in the Vallejo household. They were both taught by William Edward Petty Hartnell, an English merchant living in Monterey. The City of Monterey is located on Monterey Bay along the Pacific coast in central California in the United States. ... Gaspar de Portolà (ca. ... 1769 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... Don Mariano Guadeloupe Vallejo (4 July 1807 - 18 January 1890) was a Californian military commander, politician, and rancher. ... England is a made up country where psychologists convince schitzofrenic people they are currently living while they are in fact in a mental asylum. ...

In 1827 the eighteen-year-old Alvarado was hired as secretary to the territorial legislature. In 1829 he was briefly arrested along with Vallejo and another friend, José Castro, by soldiers involved in the military revolt led by Joaquin Solis. In 1831 he built a house in Monterey for his mistress, Juliana Francisca Ramona y Castillo, whom he called "Raymunda", to live in. Over the years, the pair had a total of five illegitimate daughters, all of whom he recognized, but he never married their mother. During this period Alvarado began drinking heavily. One of his daughters claimed that Raymunda had refused to marry Alvarado because of his excessive drinking. 1827 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... Chamber of the Estates-General, the Dutch legislature. ... 1829 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... 1831 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ...

Alvarado was in favor of secularizing the missions and he was appointed to oversee the secularization of Mission San Miguel by José Maria de Echeandía, even though he had already been replaced as governor. The new governor, Manuel Victoria rescinded the order and wanted Alvarado and Castro arrested. The pair fled and were hidden by their old friend Vallejo, who was now adjutant at the Presidio of San Francisco. However, Victoria's rule proved to be unpopular and he was overthrown by Echeandía and replaced by Pío Pico at the end of 1831. Secularization of the missions resumed in 1833. The Spanish Missions in California (more simply referred to as the California Missions) comprise a series of religious outposts established by Spanish Catholic Dominicans, Jesuits, and Franciscans, to spread the Christian doctrine among the local Native Americans, but with the added benefit of giving Spain a toehold in the frontier... In the military, an adjutant is a regimental staff officer, who assists the colonel, or commanding officer of a garrison or regiment, in the details of regimental and garrison duty. ... The Presidio of San Francisco is a park on the northern tip of the San Francisco Peninsula in the City and County of San Francisco. ... Pío de Jesus Pico Lopez (May 5, 1801–September 11, 1894) was the last Mexican Governor of Alta California, now the U.S. state of California. ... 1833 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ...

In 1834 Alvarado was elected to the legislature as a delegate and appointed customs inspector in Monterey. Governor José Figueroa granted Rancho El Sur (south of Monterey) to Alvarado on October 30, 1834. 1834 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... Customs duty is a tariff or tax on the import or export of goods. ... October 30 is the 303rd day of the year (304th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 62 days remaining. ...

After Figueroa's death in September 1835, Mariano Chico was appointed governor in January 1836, but he was very unpopular. Thinking a revolt was coming, he returned to Mexico to gather troops, but was reprimanded for leaving his post. Nicolas Gutierrez, the military commandante, assumed the governorship, but he too was unpopular. Alvarado (now senior member of the legislature) and Castro, with political support from Vallejo and assistance from a group of Americans led by Isaac Graham, staged a revolt and forced Gutierrez to relinquish power. The Americans wanted California independence, but Alvarado instead preferred staying a part of Mexico, but with greater autonomy. 1835 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... 1836 was a leap year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ...

Governor Alvarado

Alvarado (age 27) was then appointed governor, but the city council of Los Angeles protested. Alvarado, Castro, and Graham went south and negotiated a compromise after three months, avoiding a civil war. However, the city council of San Diego then voiced its disagreement with Alvarado's revolt. This time, the Mexican government was involved and there were rumors that the Mexican Army was ready to step in. Alvarado was able to negotiate another compromise to keep the peace. This article is about the largest city in California. ... City nickname: Americas Finest City Location Location of San Diego within San Diego County Government County San Diego Mayor vacant Physical characteristics Area      Land      Water 372. ...

Mexico reneged on the agreement, however, and appointed Carlos Antonio Carrillo, who was very popular among the southerners, governor on December 6, 1837. This time, civil war broke out and and after several battles, Carrillo was forced out. Mexico finally relented and recognized Alvarado as governor. December 6 is the 340th day (341st on leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1837 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ...

Alvarado married Dona Martina Castro on August 24, 1839 in Santa Clara, but he didn't attend his own wedding—his half-brother Jose Antonio Estrada stood in his place. He claimed he was held up in Monterey on official business, but it was rumored that he was actually drunk and unable to function. After the wedding, he and Martina lived in Monterey and he continued to see his mistress Raymunda, who lived nearby, on the side. August 24 is the 236th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (237th in leap years), with 129 days remaining. ... 1839 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... Location of Santa Clara within Santa Clara County, California. ...

The process of secularization of the missions was in its final stages, and it was at this time that Alvarado parceled out much of their land to prominent Californios via land grants. He did not, however, take any land for himself. He did trade his Rancho El Sur to John Rogers Cooper for Rancho Bolsa del Potrero (subsequently sold back to Cooper). In 1841 he purchased Rancho El Alisal (near Salinas) from his former tutor Hartnell. 1841 is a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... // Headline text Headline text Headline text Salinas is the county seat of Monterey County, California. ...

In April 1840 a report of a planned revolt against Alvarado by a group of foreigners led by Isaac Graham caused the governor to order their arrest and deportation to Mexico City for trial, but they were acquitted of all charges in June 1841. Also in 1841, political leaders in the United States were voicing the policy of Manifest Destiny abd Californios became increasingly worried about their intentions. Vallejo conferred with Castro and Alvarado and recommended that Mexico send military reinforcements to enforce their military control of California. 1840 is a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... Mexico City (Spanish: Ciudad de México) is the name of a megacity located in the Valley of Mexico (Valle de México), a large valley in the high plateaus (altiplano) at the center of Mexico, about 2,240 metres (7,349 feet) above sea-level, surrounded on most sides... 1841 is a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... This painting (circa 1872) by John Gast called American Progress is an allegorical representation of Manifest Destiny. ...

Tensions between Northern and Southern California

In response, Mexican president Santa Anna sent Brigadier General Manuel Micheltorena and 300 men to California in January 1842. Micheltorena was to assume the governorship and the position of commandante general, but in October, Commodore Thomas ap Catsby Jones mistakenly thought that war had broken out between the United States and Mexico. He sailed into Monterey Bay and demanded surrender. Micheltorena's force was still in the south and the Monterey presidio was undermanned. As such, Alvarado reluctantly surrendered, and retired to Rancho El Alisal. The next day Commodore Jones learned of his mistake, but Alvarado declined to return and instead referred the commodore to Micheltorena. Antonio López de Santa Anna Antonio López de Santa Anna Pérez de Lebrón (sometimes spelled de Santa Ana) (21 February 1794 – 21 June 1876) was a Mexican general and dictator. ... 1842 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... Monterey Bay is a bay of the Pacific Ocean, on the coast of California, south of San Francisco. ...

Micheltorena eventually made it to Monterey, but was unable to control his troops, a number of which were convicts. This caused rumors of a revolt to foment, and by 1844, Alvarado himself was associated with them. As a result, Micheltorena had Alvarado arrested, but he had been ordered to organize a large militia in preparation for a war against the U.S. and he needed all the support he could get. 1844 was a leap year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ...

This turned out to backfire on him, as on November 14, 1844, a group of Californios led by Manuel Castro revolted against Mexican authority. José Castro and Alvarado commanded the troops. There was no actual fighting, however; a truce was negotiated and Micheltorena agreed to dismiss his convict troops. However, Micheltorena reneged on the deal and fighting broke out this time. The rebels won a skirmish in February 1845 at the Los Angeles River and Micheltorena and his troops left California. November 14 is the 318th day of the year (319th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 47 days remaining. ... 1844 was a leap year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... 1845 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... The Los Angeles River, looking north (upstream). ...

Pío Pico was installed as the new governor in Los Angeles and José Castro became commandate general. Later, Alvarado was elected to the Mexican Congress. He prepared to move to Mexico City, but Pico declined to provide funds for the transfer, and relations between northern and southern California deteriorated. Pío de Jesus Pico Lopez (May 5, 1801–September 11, 1894) was the last Mexican Governor of Alta California, now the U.S. state of California. ...

John C. Frémont arrived in Monterey at the beginning of 1846. Afraid of foreign aggression, Castro assembled his militia, with Alvarado second in command, but Frémont went north to Oregon instead. An unstable political situation in Mexico strained relations among the Californios and it seemed that civil war would break out between north and south. John C. Frémont John Charles Frémont (January 21, 1813–July 13, 1890), birth name John Charles Fremon [Harvey, p. ... 1846 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... State nickname: Beaver State Other U.S. States Capital Salem Largest city Portland Governor Ted Kulongoski (D) Official languages None Area 255,026 km² (9th)  - Land 248,849 km²  - Water 6,177 km² (2. ...

An independent California

On June 14, 1846, a group of foreigners staged the Bear Flag Revolt, capturing the town of Sonoma and Mariano Vallejo. On July 7, Commodore John D. Sloat occupied Monterey, and informed the citizenry that the Mexican-American War had begun. Pico, Castro, and Alvarado immediately dropped their differences to focus their attention on the Americans, but it was too late. By the end of August, Pico and Castro fled to Mexico and Alvarado was captured. He was soon released, and he spent the remainder of the war in his estate in Monterey. June 14 is the 165th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (166th in leap years), with 200 days remaining. ... The first Bear Flag. ... Sonoma is a town located in Sonoma County, California, USA. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 9,128. ... July 7 is the 188th day of the year (189th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 177 days remaining. ... Commodore John D. Sloat John Drake Sloat (July 6, 1781 - November 28, 1867) was a commodore in the United States Navy, and in 1846 claimed California for the United States. ... The Mexican-American War was fought between the United States and Mexico between 1846 and 1848. ...

After the war, he was offered the governorship, but he declined, instead retiring to his wife Martina's family estate at Rancho San Pablo in 1848. Alvarado did not participate in the California gold rush, instead concentrating his efforts at agriculture and business. He opened the Union Hotel on the rancho in 1860, but his businesses were mostly unsuccessful. After Martina's death in 1876, Alvarado wrote his Historia de California. He died in 1882 and is buried at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Oakland. 1848 is a leap year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). ... Gold rush handbill The California Gold Rush was a period in American history marked by mass hysteria concerning a gold discovery in Northern California. ... 1860 is the leap year starting on Sunday. ... 1876 is a leap year starting on Saturday. ... 1882 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... Aerial view looking west over downtown Oakland, Lake Merritt and the Port of Oakland. ...

References

• "Juan Alvarado - Biographic Notes". Inn-California. URL accessed on September 7, 2005.