This is a list of pre-statehood alcaldes and mayors of San Diego, from 1770 to 1850, during the Spanish, Mexican, and early American periods, prior to California's admission to statehood.
Commandants of the Presidio of San Diego From 1770 San Diego was ruled by a commandant from the Presidio of San Diego under the Spanish and (from 1822) Mexican governments. When San Diego became a Pueblo in 1835, an alcalde (mayor) of San Diego served under the Mexican and pre-statehood United States governments.
Commandant Term Notes Lt. Pedro Fages July 1770 – May 1774 Military Commandant of California Lt. José Francisco Ortega 1773–1781 Acting Commandant from July 1771 Lt. José de ZüñigaSeptember 8, 1781 – October 19, 1793 Lt. Antonio GrajeraOctober 19, 1793 – August 23, 1799 Lt. José Front August 23, 1799 – 1803Temporary Commandant ranking Rodriguez Lt. Manuel Rodríguez August 23, 1799 – late 1806Acting Commandant to 1803 Lt. Francisco María Ruizlate 1806 – 18071st time; Acting Commandant. Lt. José de la Guerra y Noriega1806–1807"for a short time" Capt. José Raimundo Carrillolate 1807 – 1809 Lt. Francisco María Ruiz1809–18201st time; Acting Commandant. Capt. Ignacio de Corral1810–1820Never came to California Lt. José María EstudilloOctober 23, 1820 – September 18211st time Capt. Francisco María RuizSeptember 1821 – 18272nd time; Presidio relinquished by the Spanish April 20, 1822 Lt. José María Estudillo1827 – April 8, 18302nd time Lt. Santiago ArgüelloApril 8, 1830 – 1835 Capt. Agustín V. Zamorano1835–1840Never assumed command; was in San Diego only during 1837–1838 Capt. Pablo de la Portillà1835–1838 Nominally commandant by rank whenever present
Alcaldes of the Pueblo of San Diego
San Diego became a pueblo in 1834, after a petition to Governor José Figueroa endorsed by Commandant Santiago Arguello. The first Alcalde (mayor) Juan María Osuna was elected, defeating Pío Pico by 13 votes. By 1838, the population shrank enough to lose its pueblo status and was ruled by a Juez de Paz as a partition of the Los Angeles District until San Diego was incorporated as a city under U.S. rule.
The following are the Jueces de Paz and Alcaldes (Justices of the Peace and Mayors) of San Diego. In this table "suplente" means substitute.
Alcalde Term Notes Juan María Osuna January 1, 1835 – 1836 1st time Santiago Argüello 1836–1837Also last full-time Commandant José Antonio Estudillo 1837–18391st time Juan María Marrón 1839–18411st time Rosario E. Aguilar 1841Juez de Paz Jesús Moreno 1841Suplente José Antonio Congora 1842Juez de Paz; 1st time José María Alvarado 1842Suplente José Joaquin Ortega 1843 – May 1843Juez de Paz; 1st time José Antonio Congora May 1843 – 1843Juez de Paz; 2nd time José María Orozco 1843Suplente Juan María Marrón 1844Juez de Paz; 2nd time; b. February 8, 1808 Thomas Wrightington 1844Suplente; 1st time Francisco María Alvarado 1845Juez de Paz José Antonio Estudillo 1845Juez de Paz (temporary); 2nd time José Ramon Argüello 1845 – April 1845Suplente José Antonio Estudillo April 1846 – 1846Sub-prefect; 3rd time; served until arrival of Americans Juan María Osuna 1846Juez de Paz; 2nd time(?); at first declined office, possibly did not act Miguel Pedrorena 1846Juez de Paz; served in Estudillo's absence José Joaquin Ortega August 1846 – August 1846Juez de Paz; 2nd time; 1st under American rule Henry D. Fitch August 1846 – June 1847Suplente; Juez de Paz in 1847 Lt. Robert Clift, Jr. June 1847 – 1847Suplente; also Juez de Paz to March 1848 Philip Crosthwaite 1847Suplente; possibly appointed with Fitch Thomas Wrightington 1847 – March 1848Suplente; 2nd time; possibly served in Crosthwaite's place Juan Bandini March 29, 1848 – September 27, 1848Juez de Paz E. L. Brown April 15, 1848 – 1848 Juan María Marrón October 3, 1848 – 1849Juez de Paz Dennis Gahagan 1849–1850Alcalde Thomas W. Sutherland March 1850 – 1850Acting Alcalde
See also Mayor of San Diego List of pre-statehood mayors of Los Angeles List of pre-statehood mayors of San Francisco List of pre-statehood mayors of San Jose
External links Mayors of U.S. Cities: San Diego "Justices of the Peace (Alcaldes)", History of San Diego by Richard F. Pourade "List of Spanish and Mexican Military Commandants at San Diego, 1769–1840", History of San Diego by Richard F. Pourade "List of Spanish and Mexican Military Commandants at San Diego, 1769–1840", History of San Diego by William E. Smythe