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Biographical Notes
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General Mariano Guadalupe
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On June 23, 1846, Captain Fremont attempted to bring Castro's troops to battle near Mission San Rafael. While camped at the Mission, three of Fremont's men shot and killed three unsuspecting Californians. (Kit Carson was one of the three Americans involved and Fremont sanctioned the killings). The events of June 1846 made it clear that Americans and Californians were at war whether they wanted to be or not. On July 2, 1846 Commodore John Sloat arrived in Monterey with news of clashes between American and Mexican forces in the vicinity of the Rio Grande. On July 5, 1846, Fremont shed his uniform and openly took command of the Bear Flag revolutionaries even though a formal declaration of war between the United States and Mexico had not yet been proclaimed. He called his new command the California Battalion. Fremont set up headquarters at Sutter's Fort and former President Ide enlisted in the California Battalion as a private.
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On July 7, 1846, Commodore Sloat raised the American flag over Monterey taking possession of the capital on behalf of the United States. On July 9, 1846, the American flag was raised over Sonoma. Vallejo was still imprisoned at Sutter's Fort, but his wife opened their home to a great celebration in honor of the flag raising. Late in July 1846, Commodore Sloat fell ill and was replaced by Commodore Robert Field Stockton. Commodore Stockton promoted Fremont to major and named him Commander of the California Battalion of United States troops on July 23, 1846. On August 2, 1846, orders were given for Vallejo's release and he returned to Sonoma.
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In July, 1846, Castro led his force south to join with Pio Pico in the planned defense of Los Angeles against the Americans. On August 12, 1846 formal word arrived in California that war had been declared between Mexico and America. Castro retreated to Mexico and the Americans under the command of Captain Archibald H. Gillespie occupied Los Angeles. Resistance to the Americans was most effectively offered by Captain Jose Maria Flores who forced Gillespie's garrison out of Los Angeles in September 1846. The fighting continued sporadically until the Battle of the Mesa in January 1847. On January 10, 1847 Fremont signed the Treaty of Cahuenga on behalf of the United States.
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Late in January 1847 Vallejo received a letter from Fremont inviting him to participate in a legislative committee to be composed of Vallejo, Larkin, Alvarado, and a few others. The letter was signed by Fremont as Governor and Commander-in-Chief of California. The remainder of 1847 saw a succession of American governors and little progress toward the stabilization of the Californian political scene. On February 10, 1848 Vallejo received a letter from Sutter explaining that gold had been discovered in the Sierras. During the Gold Rush years Sonoma served as an important way station to and from the mines further inland and Vallejo's home was visited by many of the dignitaries of the day. On July 4, 1848, the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo formally transferred the sovereignty of California from Mexico to the United States.
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Captain John B. Frisbie arrived in Sonoma in the middle of 1848 and a strong friendship quickly developed between himself and Vallejo. He was soon thereafter engaged to Vallejo's 13 year old daughter, Fannie Vallejo. Frisbie became Vallejo's trusted advisor and business partner. In September 1849 then Governor Brevet General Bennett Riley called for a constitutional convention in Monterey and invited Vallejo to be one of the delegates. The constitution was promulgated on October 13, 1849. One month later Vallejo was elected a state senator in the new California legislature. On September 9, 1850, the United States Congress admitted California to the Union as the 31st state.
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In 1850 Vallejo attempted unsuccessfully to establish the capital of California in a new town that he developed and named after himself - Vallejo. After the defeat of this project Vallejo grew increasingly depressed and did not run for reelection following his first term in office. He retired to Sonoma and built a new residence for himself and his family away from the central plaza. He named his new home Lachryma Montis. During the late 1850s and early 1860s the United States Land Commission invalidated many of the land grants that had provided the underpining of his financial position. In addition, his various other business dealings did not do well.
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Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo died on January 18, 1890.
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