Romualdo Pacheco
Who is Romualdo Pacheco you may ask?
First, the City of Pacheco, California is named for him.
Pacheco was born in California when it was still Mexican Territory
He was the 12th Governor of California, a Republican, he is the only Hispanic to serve as Governor of California since statehood. He was also the only governor to have been born in the state before statehood.
He served three terms in the U.S. House of Representatives, the first Hispanic to serve in the House elected from any state. (The others before him were delegates from U.S. territories, and thus had no voting privileges) He was the first Hispanic Representative to chair a committee, heading up the Committee on Private Land Claims.
His first election for House was unusual, in that, he won his election by one vote. His opponent Rep. Wiggington, the incumbent, contested it. Pacheco was sworn in and sent to D.C. The recount found Wiggington the winner. He came back to California and two years later won that seat.
He was Lieutenant Governor, he replaced Governor Booth when Booth got elected to the Senate.
While Lt. Governor he was also the prison warden at San Quentin
He was elected to state Treasurer in 1863
In 1857, he was elected to the state senate as a Democrat
In 1861, he commanded the First Brigade of the state militia. His primary responsibility was to disarm all non-Union companies in Los Angeles County through 1862.
Pacheco also served as U.S. Minister to Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Costa Rica and Nicaragua -- all at the same time in 1861. Only Honduras and Guatemala would he serve longer than several months (1861-3 for both).
My what different times we live
He was a vocal member of the anti-slavery movement.
He was the go-between for Mexican President Juarez and prominent Californians in Mexico's war with France.
He was a Superior Court Judge
A couple of places where I found information about Mr Pacheco
https://history.house.gov/People/Listing/P/PACHECO,-Romualdo-(P000003)/
http://www.findingdulcinea.com/features/profiles/p/romualdo-pacheco.html
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