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California
Gov. Romualdo Pacheco
- February 27, 1875 - December 9, 1875
- Republican
- October 31, 1831
- January 23, 1899
- California
- Married Mary McIntire; two children
- Succeeded, Resigned
- Representative, Ambassador
About
ROMUALDO PACHECO was born in Santa Barbara, California, on October 31, 1831. He was sent to Honolulu, Hawaii, where he received a New England-style education. Returning to California, Pacheco engaged in farming, and was a commander on a trading ship before entering politics. In 1857 he was elected to the California Senate, and he was reelected in 1861 and 1869. He served as county judge from 1855 to 1859, and was California’s state treasurer from 1863 to 1866. Pacheco also served as California’s lieutenant governor from 1871 to 1875. Governor Newton Booth resigned from office on February 27, 1875, and Pacheco, who was lieutenant governor at the time, assumed the office of governor. He served as governor for approximately ten months and left office on December 9, 1875, without accomplishing anything of real substance. In 1876 he ran for the U.S. House of Representatives, winning by one vote. However, the election results were contested and Pacheco’s seat was restored to his Democratic opponent in 1878. He ran again in 1879, and was successful in his bid for the U.S. House of Representatives, and serving in Congress until 1883. Pacheco also served as U.S. Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to the Central American States from 1890 to 1891, and served Honduras and Guatemala until 1893. Governor Romualdo Pacheco died on January 23, 1899, and is buried at the Mountain View Cemetery, Oakland, California.
Source
Official Records: California State Archives
Governors of California 1849-2002
Sobel, Robert, and John Raimo, eds. Biographical Directory of the Governors of the United States, 1789-1978, Vol. 1, Westport, Conn.; Meckler Books, 1978. 4 vols.