Robert B. Semple
Encyclopedia
Doctor Robert Baylor Semple (1806–1854) was a 19th-century California
n newspaperman & politician.
A newspaperman in Kentucky, he came west over the California Trail
with Lansford Hastings
in 1845, before the gold rush
. During the 1846 Bear Flag Revolt, he led the Americans around Sutter's Fort
in the Sacramento valley. With Walter Colton
, he published the Monterey
-based Californian
, the first newspaper ever published in California. Semple moved the newspaper to San Francisco in 1847. In late 1848 it was merged with the California Star, founded by Samuel Brannan, and became the Alta California. In 1849, he was joined in California by his brother Charles and was elected to and presided over California's state constitutional convention
. He ran unsuccessfully for California's first two Senate seats.
In 1847, with Thomas O. Larkin
, he received a grant of land from Mariano Vallejo
along the Carquinez Strait
near the mouth of the Sacramento River
provided that a new town be erected there named for Vallejo's wife Francisca Benicia. "Francisca" was objected to by the citizens of Yerba Buena, which had recently been renamed San Francisco
by its occupying American alcalde
Washington Bartlett
: The city became Benicia
instead. Falling out with Larkin after Benicia was named California's territorial capital, Semple retired in 1851 to the northern tract of the Rancho Jimeno
, which abutted his brother's Rancho Colus
. He later died from injuries received falling from a horse.
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...
n newspaperman & politician.
A newspaperman in Kentucky, he came west over the California Trail
California Trail
The California Trail was an emigrant trail of about across the western half of the North American continent from Missouri River towns to what is now the state of California...
with Lansford Hastings
Lansford Hastings
Lansford Warren Hastings is best remembered as the developer of Hastings Cutoff, a shortcut across what is now the state of Utah, a factor in the Donner Party disaster of 1846.-Early life:...
in 1845, before the gold rush
California Gold Rush
The California Gold Rush began on January 24, 1848, when gold was found by James W. Marshall at Sutter's Mill in Coloma, California. The first to hear confirmed information of the gold rush were the people in Oregon, the Sandwich Islands , and Latin America, who were the first to start flocking to...
. During the 1846 Bear Flag Revolt, he led the Americans around Sutter's Fort
Sutter's Fort
Sutter's Fort State Historic Park is a state-protected park in Sacramento, California which includes Sutter's Fort and the California State Indian Museum. Begun in 1839 and originally called "New Helvetia" by its builder, John Sutter, the fort was a 19th century agricultural and trade colony in...
in the Sacramento valley. With Walter Colton
Walter Colton
Rev. Walter Colton was a Chaplain for the United States Navy, the Alcalde of Monterey, and the author of Three Years in California and Deck and Port. He was also co-publisher of California's first newspaper, The Californian....
, he published the Monterey
Monterey, California
The City of Monterey in Monterey County is located on Monterey Bay along the Pacific coast in Central California. Monterey lies at an elevation of 26 feet above sea level. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 27,810. Monterey is of historical importance because it was the capital of...
-based Californian
The Californian
The Californian can refer to:*The Californian , Monterey newspaper moved to San Francisco*The Californian , San Francisco Bay Area-based literary newspaper...
, the first newspaper ever published in California. Semple moved the newspaper to San Francisco in 1847. In late 1848 it was merged with the California Star, founded by Samuel Brannan, and became the Alta California. In 1849, he was joined in California by his brother Charles and was elected to and presided over California's state constitutional convention
California Constitution
The document that establishes and describes the duties, powers, structure and function of the government of the U.S. state of California. The original constitution, adopted in November 1849 in advance of California attaining U.S. statehood in 1850, was superseded by the current constitution, which...
. He ran unsuccessfully for California's first two Senate seats.
In 1847, with Thomas O. Larkin
Thomas O. Larkin
Thomas Oliver Larkin was an early American emigrant to Alta California and a signer of the original California Constitution. He was the United States' first and only consul to the California Republic.-Early years:...
, he received a grant of land from Mariano Vallejo
Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo
Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo 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...
along the Carquinez Strait
Carquinez Strait
The Carquinez Strait is a narrow tidal strait in northern California. It is part of the tidal estuary of the Sacramento and the San Joaquin rivers as they drain into the San Francisco Bay...
near the mouth of the Sacramento River
Sacramento River
The Sacramento River is an important watercourse of Northern and Central California in the United States. The largest river in California, it rises on the eastern slopes of the Klamath Mountains, and after a journey south of over , empties into Suisun Bay, an arm of the San Francisco Bay, and...
provided that a new town be erected there named for Vallejo's wife Francisca Benicia. "Francisca" was objected to by the citizens of Yerba Buena, which had recently been renamed San Francisco
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
by its occupying American alcalde
Alcalde
Alcalde , or Alcalde ordinario, is the traditional Spanish municipal magistrate, who had both judicial and administrative functions. An alcalde was, in the absence of a corregidor, the presiding officer of the Castilian cabildo and judge of first instance of a town...
Washington Bartlett
Washington Bartlett
Washington Montgomery Bartlett was the 20th Mayor of San Francisco, California from 1883–1887 and was California's first and to date only Jewish Governor of California.- Life and career :...
: The city became Benicia
Benicia, California
Benicia is a waterside city in Solano County, California, United States. It was the first city in California to be founded by Anglo-Americans, and served as the state capital for nearly thirteen months from 1853 to 1854. The population was 26,997 at the 2010 census. The city is located in the San...
instead. Falling out with Larkin after Benicia was named California's territorial capital, Semple retired in 1851 to the northern tract of the Rancho Jimeno
Rancho Jimeno
Rancho Jimeno was a Mexican land grant in present day Colusa County and Yolo County, California given in 1844 by Governor Manuel Micheltorena to Manuel Jimeno Casarin...
, which abutted his brother's Rancho Colus
Rancho Colus
Rancho Colus was a Mexican land grant in present day Colusa County, California given in 1845 by Governor Pío Pico to John Bidwell. The name is derived from the name of a Native American tribe living on the west side of the Sacramento River...
. He later died from injuries received falling from a horse.