Pío Pico
Subtitle: the last governor of Mexican California
By: Carlos Manuel Salomon.
Publisher: University of Oklahoma Press
Published: 2010
Place of publication: Norman
Language: eng
Number of pages: 233
ISBN-13: 9780806140902
Subjects: Pico, Pío, -- 1801-1894; Governors -- California -- Biography; Mexican Americans -- California -- Biography; Businessmen -- California -- Biography; Political leadership -- California -- History -- 19th century; California -- History -- To 1846; California -- History -- 19th century; California -- Politics and government -- 19th century; California -- Ethnic relations
Genres: Biography
Description: "Two-time governor of Alta California and prominent businessman after the U.S. annexation, Pío de Jesus Pico was a politically savvy Californio who thrived in both the Mexican and the American periods. This is the first biography of Pico, whose life vibrantly illustrates the opportunities and risks faced by Mexican Americans in those transitional years. Carlos Manuel Salomon breathes life into the story of Pico, who -- despite his mestizo-black heritage -- became one of the wealthiest men in California thanks to real estate holdings and who was the last major Californio political figure with economic clout. Salomon traces Pico's complicated political rise during the Mexican era, leading a revolt against the governor in 1831 that swept him into that office. During his second governorship in 1845 Pico fought in vain to save California from the invading forces of the United States. Pico faced complex legal and financial problems under the American regime. Salomon argues that it was Pico's legal struggles with political rivals and land-hungry swindlers that ultimately resulted in the loss of Pico's entire fortune. Yet as the most litigious Californio of his time, he consistently demonstrated his refusal to become a victim. Pico is an important transitional figure whose name still resonates in many Southern California locales. His story offers a new view of California history that anticipates a new perspective on the multicultural fabric of the state"--Publisher's description.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references and index.
Table of contents: title: A California family; title: California rebel : reexamining Pico's role in California politics, 1828-1835; title: Secularization and rebellion : Pico at San Luis Rey, 1835-1840; title: The pivotal years, 1840-1846; title: Governor Pico and war with the United States; title: Pico reborn; title: The making of an American don; title: "An occasional miscarriage of justice" : reassessing Pío Pico's financial decline; title: La última palabra (The last word).