18 Facts About Romualdo Pacheco

Jose Antonio Romualdo Pacheco was a Californio statesman and diplomat.

Jose Antonio Romualdo Pacheco was a Californio, born in Santa Barbara, California, to a family with prominent connections.

Pacheco's father was killed at the Battle of Cahuenga Pass in 1831, when the young Romualdo was just five weeks old.

Romualdo Pacheco's father had shot Jose Maria Avila, who had attacked Alta California Governor Manuel Victoria with a lance, but died when Avila's lance struck him.

Romualdo Pacheco's mother, Maria Ramona Carrillo de Pacheco, was a sister-in-law of General Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo and a daughter of Maria Ygnacia Lopez de Carrillo, the grantee of Rancho Cabeza de Santa Rosa.

At age twelve, Romualdo Pacheco began an apprenticeship aboard a trading vessel.

Romualdo Pacheco was well respected by Anglos coming into the area.

Romualdo Pacheco became affiliated with the National Union Party in the 1860s, but was elected to most of his positions as a candidate for the Republican Party.

In 1853, at age 22, Romualdo Pacheco successfully sought the position of Judge in San Luis Obispo County.

Romualdo Pacheco was elected to the State Senate in 1857, succeeded his cousin Pablo de la Guerra.

Romualdo Pacheco served as State Treasurer from 1863 to 1867, then returned to the State Senate until he was elected Lieutenant Governor in 1871.

Romualdo Pacheco served as Lieutenant Governor of California under Newton Booth until Booth was elected to the United States Senate in 1873 and took office in 1875.

Romualdo Pacheco then served as Governor from February 27 to December 9,1875, when Lieutenant Governor William Irwin, winner in the September elections that year, was inaugurated.

Romualdo Pacheco, having been denied the Republican nomination for Governor, instead ran for Lieutenant Governor on the People's Independent ticket alongside John Bidwell.

Wigginton contested the election, eventually forcing Romualdo Pacheco to leave in 1878 when the House Committee on Elections refused Romualdo Pacheco's certificate of election.

Romualdo Pacheco returned to California in 1893, and he died in Oakland, at the home of his brother-in-law, in 1899.

Romualdo Pacheco is remembered for being the first Latino to represent a state in the US House of Representatives.

Latinos had served as non-voting delegates of territories before, but Romualdo Pacheco was the first Latino member of Congress with full voting rights.