John McDougal

John McDougal
Portrait of McDougal by William F. Cogswell
2nd Governor of California
In office January 9, 1851 – January 8, 1852
Lieutenant	David C. Broderick (acting)
Preceded by	Peter H. Burnett
Succeeded by	John Bigler
1st Lieutenant Governor of California
In office December 20, 1849 – January 9, 1851
Governor	Peter H. Burnett
Preceded by	Position established
Succeeded by	David C. Broderick
Personal details
Born	c. 1818 (1818) Union, Ohio, U.S.
Died	March 30, 1866 (aged 47–48) San Francisco, California, U.S.
Political party	Independent Democrat
Spouse	Jane McDougal
Children	5

John McDougal^[1] (c. 1818 – March 30, 1866) was an American politician who served as the second Governor of California from January 9, 1851, until January 8, 1852. Prior to this, he served from 1849 to 1851 as the first Lieutenant Governor of California.

Born to a political family in Ohio, McDougal would immigrate to California in 1849 aboard the S.S. California after serving in the Mexican–American War. After participating in the California Gold Rush, McDougal would enter early California politics a year later as an attendee of the 1849 constitutional convention in Monterey. Entering the lieutenant governorship in 1849, he would succeed to the governorship following the early resignation of Peter Hardeman Burnett.

As Governor, McDougal presided over the creation of the Mariposa Battalion, a state militia unit that killed over 40 indigenous native Californians during the California Indian Wars. McDougal signed legislation to move the state capital from San Jose to Vallejo in modern-day Solano County. After failing to secure the nomination of the California Democratic Party in the 1852 election, McDougal left office and never served in a political capacity for the rest of his life.