Jonathan D. Stevenson
Encyclopedia
Jonathan Drake Stevenson (1800–1894) was born in New York
; won a seat in the New York State Assembly
; was the commanding officer of the First Regiment of New York Volunteers during the Mexican-American War in California
; entered California mining and real estate businesses; and died in San Francisco on February 14, 1894.
Governor Daniel D. Tompkins
and served as his private secretary, and accompanied him to Washington
in that capacity when Tompkins was elected Vice President
in 1816. His friendship with prominent politicians and his helping to expose the Glentworth election frauds of 1839 gained him a certain stature in the Democratic Party
. He won a seat in the New York State Assembly and supported James K. Polk
for the Presidency in 1844.
for California on September 26, 1846, and arrived at San Francisco March 7, 1847. After his arrival in San Francisco, Stevenson joined General Stephen W. Kearny
at Monterey and was made commander of the post. In May, 1847, he became the military commander of the southern district of California with headquarters in Los Angeles. In 1848, an order was received by Colonel R.B. Mason
, directing that Colonel Stevenson's regiment should be designated thereafter the "1st Regiment of New York Volunteers" instead of the "Seventh".
. He was appointed alcalde of the settlement, and drew up a code of mining laws and regulations. He returned to San Francisco to enter the real estate business with Dr. William C. Parker, who had been assistant surgeon in the Regiment of New York Volunteers. He bought the southern half of Rancho Los Medanos
in 1849 and laid out a site for a town they called "New York of the Pacific", which was changed to Pittsburg
in 1911. He was appointed Shipping Commissioner for the Port of San Francisco in 1872. He died in San Francisco on February 14, 1894.
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
; won a seat in the New York State Assembly
New York State Assembly
The New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature. The Assembly is composed of 150 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 128,652...
; was the commanding officer of the First Regiment of New York Volunteers during the Mexican-American War in 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...
; entered California mining and real estate businesses; and died in San Francisco on February 14, 1894.
New York state politics
Stevenson became the protege of New YorkNew York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
Governor Daniel D. Tompkins
Daniel D. Tompkins
Daniel D. Tompkins was an entrepreneur, jurist, Congressman, the fourth Governor of New York , and the sixth Vice President of the United States .-Name:...
and served as his private secretary, and accompanied him to Washington
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
in that capacity when Tompkins was elected Vice President
Vice President of the United States
The Vice President of the United States is the holder of a public office created by the United States Constitution. The Vice President, together with the President of the United States, is indirectly elected by the people, through the Electoral College, to a four-year term...
in 1816. His friendship with prominent politicians and his helping to expose the Glentworth election frauds of 1839 gained him a certain stature in the Democratic Party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
. He won a seat in the New York State Assembly and supported James K. Polk
James K. Polk
James Knox Polk was the 11th President of the United States . Polk was born in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. He later lived in and represented Tennessee. A Democrat, Polk served as the 17th Speaker of the House of Representatives and the 12th Governor of Tennessee...
for the Presidency in 1844.
Regiment of New York Volunteers
In 1846, President Polk offered Stevenson the command of a regiment of volunteers to be raised as part of the American occupation army during the Mexican-American War in California. Colonel Stevenson raised a volunteer regiment of ten companies of 77 men each or 770 men to go to California with the understanding that they would be muster out and stay in California. On the 1st of August 1846, the regiment was mustered into Federal service as the "Seventh" New York Volunteers. Stevenson with his Regiment of New York Volunteers sailed around Cape HornCape Horn
Cape Horn is the southernmost headland of the Tierra del Fuego archipelago of southern Chile, and is located on the small Hornos Island...
for California on September 26, 1846, and arrived at San Francisco March 7, 1847. After his arrival in San Francisco, Stevenson joined General Stephen W. Kearny
Stephen W. Kearny
Stephen Watts Kearny surname also appears as Kearney in some historic sources; August 30, 1794 October 31, 1848), was one of the foremost antebellum frontier officers of the United States Army. He is remembered for his significant contributions in the Mexican-American War, especially the conquest...
at Monterey and was made commander of the post. In May, 1847, he became the military commander of the southern district of California with headquarters in Los Angeles. In 1848, an order was received by Colonel R.B. Mason
Richard Barnes Mason
Richard Barnes Mason was a career general officer in the United States Army and the fifth military governor of California before it became a U.S. state.-Early life:...
, directing that Colonel Stevenson's regiment should be designated thereafter the "1st Regiment of New York Volunteers" instead of the "Seventh".
Post bellum
When his Regiment was mustered out of service in 1848, Stevenson went to the mining community of Mokelumne HillMokelumne Hill, California
Mokelumne Hill is a census-designated place in Calaveras County, California, United States. The population was 646 at the 2010 census, down from 774 at the 2000 census. It is commonly referred to as "Moke Hill" by locals...
. He was appointed alcalde of the settlement, and drew up a code of mining laws and regulations. He returned to San Francisco to enter the real estate business with Dr. William C. Parker, who had been assistant surgeon in the Regiment of New York Volunteers. He bought the southern half of Rancho Los Medanos
Rancho Los Medanos
Rancho Los Medanos was a Mexican land grant in present day Contra Costa County, California given in 1839 by Governor Juan Alvarado to Jose Antonio Mesa and Jose Miguel Garcia. The name "los medanos" is derived from the sand hills located along the San Joaquin River on its northern boundary...
in 1849 and laid out a site for a town they called "New York of the Pacific", which was changed to Pittsburg
Pittsburg, California
Pittsburg is a city located in eastern Contra Costa County, California, the outer portion of the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area. The population was 63,264 at the 2010 census....
in 1911. He was appointed Shipping Commissioner for the Port of San Francisco in 1872. He died in San Francisco on February 14, 1894.