Pio Pico - Last Governor of Mexican California

Pio de Jesus Pico (1801-1894) was born at the Mission San Gabriel to one of the earliest families in Los Angeles. Ethnically, being of African, Indian and European descent, he foreshadowed the diverse ethnic quilt of the future Los Angeles.

Pico was the last governor of Mexican Alta California before its surrender and final absorption into the United States. His terms as governor were for a very brief period in 1832 and again from March 1845 to July 1846. As governor of Alta California, he moved the provincial capital to Los Angeles. One of the key events during his administration was the finalization of the secularization of California’s missions.

Pico was aghast at the growing number of American immigrants in his province. He stated:

"What are we to do then? Shall we remain supine, while these daring strangers are overrunning our fertile plains, and gradually outnumbering and displacing us? Shall these incursions go on unchecked, until we shall become strangers in our own land?"

Despite having laws that threatened deportation if American immigrants would not adopt Mexican citizenship and become Catholics, Pico felt powerless to stop the tide. Foreseeing no good outcome to the Yankee influx and concerned about Mexico City’s inattention, Pico suggested that a French or English annexation might be more acceptable to the Mexican Californian or Californio way of life.

Pico's fears became more real when American troops invaded California in 1846. Unable to obtain a commitment of troops from Mexico City and only able to muster a hundred poorly armed militia, he determined the situation to be near hopeless and decided to flee south. He apparently felt that the Americans would not treat him kindly. Before leaving, he rapidly sold off 12 million acres of public land (including Catalina Island) at ridiculously low prices to raise money for the war and keep as much land out of the hands of Americans as possible. This did nothing, however, to enrich himself.

In 1848, after Mexico ceded Alta California to the United States, Pico returned to his home in Los Angeles. Here he lived as a private citizen, rancher, businessman, hotel owner, and Los Angeles City Councilman. He owned the ranch Rancho de Bartolo or "El Ranchito" in modern-day Whittier (now represented by Pio Pico State Park) and a large home overlooking the Los Angeles Plaza. In 1870, he built Pico House that, for its time, was the largest and most luxurious hotel in Southern California and center of local society. A flood destroyed his beloved El Ranchito in 1884, forcing him to mortgage his remaining properties in order to rebuild.

Pico’s love for gambling eventually led him to lose everything. When loan sharks took possession of the last of his properties, Pico ended up living on charity and with his daughter Joaquina Pico Moreno. He died in poverty at the age of 91.

Pico and his wife Ygnacia (Nachita Alvarado de Pico) are buried at the Workman and Temple Family Homestead El Campo Santo cemetery in the City of Industry.