I ran into this interesting article on the governors of California prior to Statehood. Thought it was interesting. San Diego Herald March 19, 1853 CALIFORNIA GOVERNORS -- We give, below the names of the Governors of California. The first Spanish Governor in Upper California was Gasparde Pertola, who was sent to the territory in 1759. In 1773, he was succeeded by Felipe de Neve. Pedro Fagus assumed command in 1782, and he was relieved in 1792 by Josef Romen. In 1795, Diego Borica was invested with charge of affairs. Jose Joaquin Arrellega became Governor in 1806, and to him succeeded in 1812, Jose Maria Arguello. In 1815 commenced the term of Pablo Vincente Sola, during whose administration the Province of Mexico declared its independence of Spain. It was not till 1822, that Sola acknowledged the change of affairs, when he took the title of Political Chief and Military Commandant, and remained in office till 1823, leaving as Political Chief, Luis Antonio Arguello. He acted till 1825, when Joe Marin Echeandia arrived from Mexico as Political Chief. Echeandia was superseded in 1829 by Don Manuel Victoria, who was expelled from the country in 1830. Things were very unsettled till 1833, when Genl. Don Jose Figueroa arrived, and died in 1835, having previously resigned the government to Don Jose Castro who afterwards resigned in favor of Col. Nicolas Butierrez, who held it till the arrival of Don Mariano Chico, who was expelled by the people of Monterey in 1836. After this California was declared independent and Don Mariano Guadalupe Ballejo was called on to assume the government of the state. He however hesitated and Don Juan Bautista Alvarado took the place of Governor. General Manuel Micheltorena arrived in 1842 and kept command till expelled in 1841. The office of Governor being thus vacated, Pio Pico under took the functions of chief civil authority, while Joe Castro possessed the office of Caommandant General. They remained in power till the occupation of California by the United States. I thought this was fascinating as we always seem to know who was Governor of California since statehood, but prior seems to be something that we have mostly forgotten. Donna Bradley