John B. Weller
Encyclopedia
John B. Weller was the fifth Governor of California
from January 8, 1858 to January 9, 1860 and a Congressman from Ohio
, U.S. senator from California
, and minister
to Mexico
.
, and attended the public schools and Miami University
in Oxford, Ohio
. He then studied law, was admitted to the bar and practiced in Butler County, Ohio
. He was prosecuting attorney of Butler County from 1833 until 1836.
He 1838 he was elected as a Democrat from Ohio to the 26th-, 27th- and 28th Congresses, serving from 1839 until 1845.
He served in the 1st Regiment of Ohio Volunteers as a Lieutenant Colonel
during Mexican-American War from 1846 until 1847, and then was an unsuccessful Democratic candidate for Governor of Ohio in 1848, a bitterly fought campaign, and the only disputed election for Ohio Governor of the 19th century. A select joint committee of the Ohio General Assembly
finally established January 22, 1849 that Weller lost by 311 votes to Whig Seabury Ford
.
In 1849 and 1850 he was a member of the commission to establish the boundary line between California and Mexico
. After a scandal, he was removed from the commission by President Zachary Taylor
. He then moved to California and practiced law. Somehow recovering from the scandal, Weller entered politics in California. He was elected as a Democrat from California to the United States Senate for the term commencing March 4, 1851, and served from January 30, 1852, to March 3, 1857, but was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection. During the 34th Congress he was chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Military Affairs. He was then elected Governor of California and served 1858 to 1860. As Governor, he intended to make California an independent republic if the North and South divided over slavery, and he personally led an assault on San Quentin Prison to take back possession of it from a commercial contractor.
After leaving the state house, he was appointed Ambassador to Mexico in 1860 and was recalled in 1861. He moved to New Orleans, Louisiana
in 1867 and continued the practice of law.
He died in New Orleans in 1875. Original interment was at Laurel Hill Cemetery in San Francisco. His remains were moved to Girod Street Cemetery
. That burying ground was destroyed in 1959 and unclaimed remains were commingled with 15,000 others and deposited beneath Hope Mausoleum, St. John's Cemetery, New Orleans.
Weller's father-in-law, John A. Bryan
, was a U.S. diplomat. His brother-in-law, Charles Henry Bryan
, was a California State Senator.
Governor of California
The Governor of California is the chief executive of the California state government, whose responsibilities include making annual State of the State addresses to the California State Legislature, submitting the budget, and ensuring that state laws are enforced...
from January 8, 1858 to January 9, 1860 and a Congressman from Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, U.S. senator from California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, and minister
Ambassador
An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
to Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
.
Life
Weller was born in Hamilton County, OhioHamilton County, Ohio
As of 2000, there were 845,303 people, 346,790 households, and 212,582 families residing in the county. The population density was 2,075 people per square mile . There were 373,393 housing units at an average density of 917 per square mile...
, and attended the public schools and Miami University
Miami University
Miami University is a coeducational public research university located in Oxford, Ohio, United States. Founded in 1809, it is the 10th oldest public university in the United States and the second oldest university in Ohio, founded four years after Ohio University. In its 2012 edition, U.S...
in Oxford, Ohio
Oxford, Ohio
Oxford is a city in northwestern Butler County, Ohio, United States, in the southwestern portion of the state. It lies in Oxford Township, originally called the College Township. The population was 21,943 at the 2000 census. This college town was founded as a home for Miami University. Oxford...
. He then studied law, was admitted to the bar and practiced in Butler County, Ohio
Butler County, Ohio
Butler County is a county located in the state of Ohio, United States. As of 2010, the population was 368,130. Its county seat is Hamilton. It is named for General Richard Butler, who died in 1791 fighting Indians in northern Ohio. Butler's army marched out of Fort Hamilton, where the city of...
. He was prosecuting attorney of Butler County from 1833 until 1836.
He 1838 he was elected as a Democrat from Ohio to the 26th-, 27th- and 28th Congresses, serving from 1839 until 1845.
He served in the 1st Regiment of Ohio Volunteers as a Lieutenant Colonel
Lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
during Mexican-American War from 1846 until 1847, and then was an unsuccessful Democratic candidate for Governor of Ohio in 1848, a bitterly fought campaign, and the only disputed election for Ohio Governor of the 19th century. A select joint committee of the Ohio General Assembly
Ohio General Assembly
The Ohio General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Ohio. It consists of the 99-member Ohio House of Representatives and the 33-member Ohio Senate...
finally established January 22, 1849 that Weller lost by 311 votes to Whig Seabury Ford
Seabury Ford
Seabury Ford was a Whig politician from Ohio. He served as the 20th Governor of Ohio and the last Whig to do so....
.
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. After a scandal, he was removed from the commission by President Zachary Taylor
Zachary Taylor
Zachary Taylor was the 12th President of the United States and an American military leader. Initially uninterested in politics, Taylor nonetheless ran as a Whig in the 1848 presidential election, defeating Lewis Cass...
. He then moved to California and practiced law. Somehow recovering from the scandal, Weller entered politics in California. He was elected as a Democrat from California to the United States Senate for the term commencing March 4, 1851, and served from January 30, 1852, to March 3, 1857, but was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection. During the 34th Congress he was chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Military Affairs. He was then elected Governor of California and served 1858 to 1860. As Governor, he intended to make California an independent republic if the North and South divided over slavery, and he personally led an assault on San Quentin Prison to take back possession of it from a commercial contractor.
After leaving the state house, he was appointed Ambassador to Mexico in 1860 and was recalled in 1861. He moved to New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
in 1867 and continued the practice of law.
He died in New Orleans in 1875. Original interment was at Laurel Hill Cemetery in San Francisco. His remains were moved to Girod Street Cemetery
Girod Street Cemetery
The Girod Street Cemetery was a large above-ground cemetery established in 1822 for Protestant residents of the Faubourg St. Mary in predominantly Catholic New Orleans, Louisiana. It consisted of 2,319 wall vaults and approximately 1,100 tombs. Notables interred there included congressman Henry...
. That burying ground was destroyed in 1959 and unclaimed remains were commingled with 15,000 others and deposited beneath Hope Mausoleum, St. John's Cemetery, New Orleans.
Weller's father-in-law, John A. Bryan
John A. Bryan
John Alexander Bryan was an American diplomat and politician from New York and Ohio.-Biography:...
, was a U.S. diplomat. His brother-in-law, Charles Henry Bryan
Charles Henry Bryan
Charles Henry Bryan was a politician and jurist in California.-Biography:Bryan was born on October 20, 1822 in Ellicottville, New York. His father, John A. Bryan, was a United States diplomat, and his brother-in-law, John B. Weller, was a United States Senator...
, was a California State Senator.