Mariano Vallejo, ca. 1880-85.

Don Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo (4 July 1807 - 18 January 1890) was a Californian military commander, politician, and rancher. He was born a subject of Spain, performed his military duties as an officer of Mexico, and shaped the transition of California from a Mexican district to an American state. Vallejo, a city in California that he founded, is named for him. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 373 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (751 × 1207 pixel, file size: 84 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 373 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (751 × 1207 pixel, file size: 84 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Don (usually preceded in English by the), derived from Latin Dominus, is a Spanish (pron. ... is the 185th day of the year (186th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1807 (MDCCCVII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar). ... is the 18th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1890 (MDCCCXC) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar). ... This article is about the U.S. state. ... A U.S. state is any one of the 50 states which have membership of the federation known as the United States of America (USA or U.S.). The separate state governments and the U.S. federal government share sovereignty. ... Vallejo (pronounced IPA: in English; in the original Spanish) is a city in Solano County, California, United States. ...

Early career

Mariano Vallejo was born in Monterey, California, the eighth of thirteen children and third son of Ignacio Vicente Ferrer Vallejo and Maria Antonia Lugo. His father's great grandfather, Pedro Vallejo, was said to have served as viceroy of New Spain, although his name does not appear on the list of viceroys. Earlier Vallejo ancestors were said to include a captain who served under Hernan Cortes and an admiral, Alonso Vallejo, said to be the commander of the ship which brought Columbus back to Spain as a prisoner in 1500. However, these ancestors were probably only a family mythology. Ignacio himself had been a lowly sergeant at the Presidio of Monterey, who nonetheless eventually served as Alcalde of San José. For other uses, see Monterey (disambiguation). ... Viceroys of New Spain Spanish Rule Before Appointment of Viceroy Hernán Cortés, as Governor-General . ... The military has played a role in the history of the Monterey Peninsula since 1770 when a small expedition led by captain Gaspar de Portola, officially took possession for Spain of what is now central California. ... Alcalde is the Spanish title of the chief administrator of a town. ... For other uses, see San José. Nickname: Location of San Jose within Santa Clara County, California. ...

As a teenager, young Mariano, his nephew Juan Bautista Alvarado (1809-1882), and José Castro (1808-1860) received special instruction from Governor Pablo Vicente de Solá. The boys received government documents and newspapers from Mexico City, as well as access to the governor's personal library. Vallejo then worked as a clerk for English merchant William Hartnell, who taught Vallejo English, French, and Latin. Juan Bautista Valentin Alvarado y Vallejo (February 14, 1809–July 13, 1882) was a Californio and Governor of Alta California from 1836 to 1842. ... José Castro (born Monterey, California 1808 - died February 1860) was acting governor of Alta California in 1835, and Commandante General of the Mexican army in Alta California at the time of the Bear Flag Revolt in 1846 and the Mexican-American War of 1846-1848. ... Pablo Vicente de Solá (1761-1826), the last Spanish governor of Alta California from 1815-1822. ... For other uses, see England (disambiguation). ... William Edward Petty Hartnell William Edward Petty Hartnell, a. ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... Latin was the language originally spoken in the region around Rome called Latium. ...

Vallejo was serving as the personal secretary to the new Governor of California, Luis Argüello, when news of Mexico's independence reached Monterey. Argüello enrolled Vallejo as a cadet in the Presidio company in 1824. After being promoted to corporal, Argüello appointed Vallejo to the diputación, the territorial legislature. He was promoted to alférez (equal to a modern army second lieutenant), and in 1829, Vallejo led a group of soldiers against the Miwoks, under chief Estanislao. After a three-day battle, Vallejo's troops forced the Miwok to flee to Mission San José, seeking refuge with the padres. Luis Antonio Argüello (1784 - 1830) was Californias first native-born governor. ... Combatants Mexico Spain Commanders Miguel Hidalgo José María Morelos Vicente Guerrero Spanish colonial authorities Strength  ?  ? Casualties  ?  ? Mexican War of Independence (1810-1821), was an armed conflict between the people of Mexico and Spanish colonial authorities, which started on September 16, 1810. ... A cadet is a future officer in the military. ... This article is about the military rank. ... A legislatureis a type of representative deliberative assembly with the power to ratify laws. ... Miwok (also spelled Miwuk, Mi-Wuk, or Me-Wuk) can refer to any one of four linguistically-related groups of Native Americans, who lived in what is now Northern California, who spoke one of the Miwokan languages in the Utian family. ... Estanislao (d. ... Mission San José was founded on Trinity Sunday (June 11), 1797 on a site located in the Mission San Jose District of Fremont, California (formerly an independent town, a spot that the natives called Oroysom or Orisom) in the Valley of San José. The pueblo (town) of San Jose had...

Rise to power

In 1831 Vallejo participated in the "emergency installation" of Pío Pico as acting Governor. In 1832, Vallejo married Francisca Benicia Carrillo. The Carrillos were one of the leading families in San Diego. Vallejo became the Commander of the Presidio of San Francisco in 1833, oversaw the secularization of Mission San Francisco Solano, founded the town of Sonoma, and was granted Rancho Petaluma by Governor José Figueroa in 1834. In 1835 he was appointed Comandante of the Fourth Military District and Director of Colonization of the Northern Frontier, the highest military command in Northern California. Pío de Jesus Pico IV (May 5, 1801 – September 11, 1894) was the last Mexican Governor of Alta California. ... San Diego redirects here. ... The Parade Grounds at the Presidio of San Francisco. ... Mission San Francisco Solano was founded on July 4, 1823 and named for a missionary to the Indians of Peru born in Montilla, Spain, known as the Wonder Worker of the New World. ... Sonoma City Hall in the town plaza Sonoma is a historically significant town in Sonoma Valley, Sonoma County, California, USA. Sonoma is centered around its historic town plaza, a remnant of the towns Spanish colonial past. ... Rancho Petaluma Adobe is a large ranch and adobe ranch house that was owned by General Mariano Vallejo from 1834 to 1857, founded at the time when the Northern California was part of Mexico. ... General José Figueroa (1792-1835), governor of Alta California from 1833-1835. ... Northern California, sometimes referred to as NorCal, is the northern portion of the U.S. state of California. ...

Vallejo began construction of a presidio in Sonoma to counter the Russian presence at Fort Ross. Vallejo transferred most of the soldiers from San Francisco to Sonoma, and began construction of his two-story Casa Grande adobe on the town plaza. He formed an alliance with Sem-Yeto, also known as Chief Solano of the Suisunes tribe, providing Vallejo with over a thousand Suisunes allies during his conflicts with other tribes. Fort Ross is a former Russian fur trade outpost in what is now Sonoma County, California (United States). ... Renewal of the surface coating of an adobe wall in Chamisal, New Mexico Adobe is a natural building material composed of sand, sandy clay and straw or other organic materials, which is shaped into bricks using wooden frames and dried in the sun. ... The Suisunes (also called the Suisun and the People of the West Wind) were a tribe of Native Americans that lived in Northern Californias Suisun Marsh regions of Solano County, California between what is now Suisun, Vacaville and Putah Creek around 200 years ago. ...

Governor Figueroa died in September of 1835, and was replaced by Nicolás Gutiérrez, who was unpopular with the Californio population, resulting in an uprising headed by Juan Alvarado the next year. Alvarado tried to persuade Vallejo to join the uprising, but he declined to become involved. One hundred-seventy Californios led by José Castro and fifty Americans led by Isaac Graham marched on Monterey. After the rebels fired a single cannon shot into the Presidio, Governor Gutiérrez surrendered on November 5, 1836. On November 7, Alvarado wrote to his uncle Mariano, informing Vallejo he had claimed to be acting under Vallejo's orders and asking him to come to Monterey to take part in the government. Vallejo came to Monterey as a hero, and on November 29, the diputación promoted Vallejo from alférez to colonel and named him Comandante General of the "Free State of Alta California", while Alvarado was named Governor. The Federal Government in Mexico City would later endorse Vallejo and Alvarado's actions and confirm their new positions. Languages Spanish Religions Predominantly Roman Catholic Related ethnic groups Mediterranean Amerindian Mestizo The Californios were Spanish-speaking inhabitants of Alta California, first a part of New Spain, later of Mexico. ... Name: Juan Carlos Alvarado AKA J.C. Location: Mission, TX, United States Cashes: 8 Total Winnings: $585,661 ProRank 1 Position: 17 Age: 1808 Marital Status: Single Children: 0 Started Playing Poker: 2004 Plays on-line as PrtyPSux. ... José Castro (born Monterey, California 1808 - died February 1860) was acting governor of Alta California in 1835, and Commandante General of the Mexican army in Alta California at the time of the Bear Flag Revolt in 1846 and the Mexican-American War of 1846-1848. ... is the 309th day of the year (310th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1836 (MDCCCXXXVI) was a leap year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian Calendar (or a leap year starting on Wednesday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... is the 311th day of the year (312th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 333rd day of the year (334th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For other uses, see Colonel (disambiguation). ... 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. ... Mexico City (in Spanish: Ciudad de México, México, D.F. or simply México) is the capital city of Mexico. ...

Troubles

In 1840, Graham began agitating for a Texas-style revolution in California. Alvarado notified Vallejo of the situation, and in April the Californian military began arresting American and English immigrants, eventually detaining about 100 in the Presidio of Monterey. At the time, there were fewer than 400 foreigners from all nations in the department. Vallejo returned to Monterey and ordered Castro to take 47 of the prisoners to San Blas by ship, to be deported to their home countries. Under pressure from British and American diplomats, President Anastasio Bustamante released the remaining prisoners and began a court martial against Castro. Also assisting in the release of those caught up in the Graham Affair was American traveler Thomas J. Farnham.^[1] In 1841, Graham and 18 of his associates returned to Monterey, with new passports issued by the Mexican Federal Government. For other uses, see Texas (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see England (disambiguation). ... San Blas is both a municipality and municipal seat located on the Pacific coast of Mexico in the state of Nayarit. ... Anastasio Bustamante (July 27, 1780, Jiquilpan Michoacán—February 6, 1853, San Miguel de Allende, Querétaro) was president of Mexico three times, from 1830 to 1832, from 1837 to 1839 and from 1839 to 1841. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

Also in 1841, the Russians at Fort Ross offered to sell the post to Vallejo. After several months of negotiations and delays by the Mexican authorities and Governor Alvarado (who feared his uncle was plotting to overthrow him), John Sutter purchased the fort. This economic and military setback confirmed Vallejo's belief that it would be better if California was no longer ruled from Mexico City. Although both France and the United Kingdom expressed interest in acquiring Alta California, Vallejo believed the best hope for economic and cultural development lay with the United States. Fort Ross is a former Russian fur trade outpost in what is now Sonoma County, California (United States). ... This does not cite its references or sources. ...

In November of 1841, Vallejo was meeting with José Castro at Mission San José when he was informed of the arrival in California of an immigrant party led by John Bidwell and John Bartleson. Half of the group was staying with Dr. John Marsh north of Mount Diablo, while the rest had continued on to San José. They were arrested before reaching the pueblo for illegally entering Mexico and brought to Vallejo at the mission. Vallejo's orders from Mexico City were clear. Americans entering Mexico without valid passports were to be sent back to the United States. However, after the Graham affair, Vallejo was reluctant to deport another group of Americans, especially those with skills useful for colonizing the northern frontier. These reasons, coupled with his disillusionment with the Mexican government, led Vallejo to grant passports to the immigrants detained in the mission and to give Dr. Marsh passports for those camped on his rancho. Mission San José was founded on Trinity Sunday (June 11), 1797 on a site located in the Mission San Jose District of Fremont, California (formerly an independent town, a spot that the natives called Oroysom or Orisom) in the Valley of San José. The pueblo (town) of San Jose had... John Bidwell John Bidwell (August 5, 1819- April 4, 1900) was known throughout California and across the nation as an important pioneer, farmer, soldier, statesman, politician and philanthropist. ... Mount Diablo State Park is a state park in California, USA. View of Mt. ... For other uses, see San José. Nickname: Location of San Jose within Santa Clara County, California. ... Illegal alien and Illegal aliens redirect here. ... For Microsoft Corporation’s “universal login” service, formerly known as Microsoft Passport Network, see Windows Live ID. For other types of travel document, see Travel document. ...

In 1842, the Federal Government replaced Vallejo and his nephew Alvarado with Manuel Micheltorena as both civil and military Governor of Alta California. Micheltorena arrived with the batallón fijo, a force of 300 pardoned criminals, who out of desperation at not being paid began to loot the population. Manuel Micheltorena (?-1852) was the Governor and Comandante General of Alta California from 1842-1845. ... For the Breton religious festivals, see Pardon (ceremony). ...

Bear Flag Revolt

On June 14, 1846, Vallejo was taken prisoner by a ragtag band of Americans who had decided to emulate the Texans by revolting against California's Mexican government. Surrounding the Casa Grande at dawn, the Americans proceeded to get roaring drunk and raise an improvised flag featuring a grizzly bear that some viewers mistook for a pig. Although Vallejo was sympathetic to the advent of American rule, he deemed the perpetrators of the Bear Flag Revolt to be mere lowlife rabble. As he wrote in his five-volume history, is the 165th day of the year (166th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1846 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... For other uses, see Texas (disambiguation). ... The first Bear Flag. ...

if the men who hoisted the 'Bear Flag' had raised the flag that Washington sanctified by his abnegation and patriotism, there would have been no war on the Sonoma frontier, for all our minds were prepared to give a brotherly embrace to the sons of the Great Republic, whose enterprising spirit had filled us with admiration. Ill-advisedly, however, as some say, or dominated by a desire to rule without let or hindrance, as others say, they placed themselves under the shelter of a flag that pictured a bear, an animal that we took as the emblem of rapine and force. This mistake was the cause of all the trouble, for when the Californians saw parties of men running over their plains and forests under the 'Bear Flag,' they thought that they were dealing with robbers and took the steps they thought most effective for the protection of their lives and property.

Vallejo, his French secretary Victor Prudon, his brother Don Salvador Vallejo, and their brother-in-law Jacob Leese were taken as prisoners to John C. Frémont's camp in the Central Valley. Frémont ordered they be kept prisoners in Sutter's Fort. Conditions for the prisoners were good, until Frémont discovered they were well fed and allowed to walk around the fort several times a day. He replaced the jailer, instructing the replacement to treat them "no better than any other prisoner". Mariano contracted malaria while being held at the fort. After agreeing to remain neutral during the remainder of the war with Mexico, Mariano was released on August 1 and arrived at Casa Grande a day or two later, weighing only 96 pounds. His brother and brother-in-law were released about a week later. The modern Bear Flag of California The flag of California was first flown during the Bear Flag Revolt as the flag of the California Republic, and a modified version was then adopted by the California state legislature in 1911 as the state flag. ... George Washington (February 22, 1732 – December 14, 1799)[1] led Americas Continental Army to victory over Britain in the American Revolutionary War (1775–1783), and in 1789 was elected the first President of the United States of America. ... John Charles Frémont (January 21, 1813 – July 13, 1890), was an American military officer, explorer, the first candidate of the Republican Party for the office of President of the United States, and the first presidential candidate of a major party to run on a platform in opposition to slavery. ... This article is about Californias Central Valley. ... 19th century illustration of Sutters Fort Started in 1839, Sutters Fort, which was originally called New Helvetia[1] (New Switzerland) by its builder, John Sutter, was a 19th century agricultural and trading colony in California. ... Malaria is a vector-borne infectious disease caused by protozoan parasites. ... is the 213th day of the year (214th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

State politics

Once the United States defeated Mexico in the war, Vallejo proved his allegiance to his new country by persuading wealthy Californios to accept American rule. An influential member of the state's Constitutional Convention, he was elected as a member of the first session of the State Senate in 1850. In 1844, he had been deeded title to Rancho Soscol, which included what is now the town of Petaluma. In 1850, he offered to donate a large portion of that land to the new state government on which to build a capital city away from its cramped quarters in San Jose and also offered to pay for a considerable amount of the construction. The offer was accepted by the new state legislature and signed into law by Governor John McDougall, convening in Vallejo, as the new city was named, for the first time in 1851. However, construction lagged, and state bureaucrats were confronted with inadequate, leaky buildings and a soggy location. Within three years, the state legislature and newly-elected Governor John Bigler had authorized the capital's relocation three more times, to Sacramento, Benicia and finally a permanent return to Sacramento. The 1849 Constitution was signed in Colton Hall in Monterey. ... California State Senate chamber The California State Senate is the upper house of the California State Legislature. ... Aerial view of Petaluma, California. ... For other uses, see San José. Nickname: Location of San Jose within Santa Clara County, California. ... Californias Capitol, where the State Legislature meets California State Assembly chamber California state Senate chamber The California Legislature is the legislative branch of the state government of California. ... We dont have an article called John Mcdougall Start this article Search for John Mcdougall in. ... Vallejo (pronounced IPA: in English; in the original Spanish) is a city in Solano County, California, United States. ... John Bigler 3rd Governor of California John Bigler (January 8, 1805–November 29, 1871) was Governor of California from January 8, 1852 until January 9, 1856. ... Sacramento redirects here. ... Benicia is a waterside city in Solano County, California, United States. ...

Although the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo formally protected the legal rights of Mexicans now part in the United States, a long legal challenge to Vallejo's land title cost him thousands of dollars in legal fees and finally deprived him of almost all his land. Most Californios could not afford the legal expenses to claim their lands, which was thus lost to wealthy Americans and the flood of immigrants, beginning with the Gold Rush, which left the Californios outnumbered and unable to protect their political power. At some time prior to 1869, Vallejo gave the Mexican land grant called Rancho Yajome to his daughter as a wedding present, when she married General John H. Frisbie(Earth Metrics, 1989). This land grant in the Milliken Creek watershed was at that time wilderness and included the property now known as the Silverado Country Club, located in Vichy Springs in the Napa Valley. The Mexican Cession (red) and the Gadsden Purchase (orange) The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was the treaty that ended the Mexican-American War. ... 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. ... The California Gold Rush (1848–1855) began shortly after January 24, 1848 (when gold was discovered at Sutters Mill in Coloma). ... 1869 (MDCCCLXIX) is a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a common year starting on Sunday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar. ... Milliken Creek is a stream in Napa County, California that is tributary to the Napa River. ... A drainage basin is the area within the drainage basin divide (blue outline), and drains the surface runoff and river discharge (green lines) of a contiguous area. ... For other uses, see Wilderness (disambiguation). ... Vichy Springs is a small unincorporated community in Napa County, California. ... Napa County is in north-central California Napa Valley is most famous for its wine. ...

By the time of his death in 1890, Vallejo led a modest lifestyle on the last vestige of his once vast landholdings, He continued to devote his energies to the development of California for the remainder of his life. General Mariano Vallejo died at Sonoma, California. He and his wife are interred at the Mountain Cemetery in Sonoma. Sonoma City Hall in the town plaza Sonoma is a historically significant town in Sonoma Valley, Sonoma County, California, USA. Sonoma is centered around its historic town plaza, a remnant of the towns Spanish colonial past. ...

Vallejo's Rancho Petaluma Adobe is now preserved in the Petaluma Adobe State Historic Park as a National Historic Landmark. The U.S. Navy submarine USS Mariano G. Vallejo was named in his honor. Rancho Petaluma Adobe is a large ranch and adobe ranch house that was owned by General Mariano Vallejo from 1834 to 1857, founded at the time when the Northern California was part of Mexico. ... This article or section needs additional references or sources to improve its verifiability. ... USN redirects here. ... USS (SSBN-658), a Benjamin Franklin-class ballistic missile submarine, was the only ship of the United States Navy to be named for Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo. ...

References

• Myrtle M. McKittrick, Vallejo, Son of California, 1944 This book deals mainly with the Mexican period in General Vallejo’s life.
• Alan Rosenus, General Vallejo and the Advent of the Americans, 1995 ISBN 1-890771-21-X This book deals mainly with the American period in General Vallejo’s life.
• Madie Brown Emparan, The Vallejos of California, 1968 Contains twelve brief biographies of General Vallejo, his wife Benicia, and each of ten children.
• Earth Metrics Incorporated, "Phase I Environmental Site Assessment, Silverado Country Club, Napa County, California", May, 1989