John D. Sloat
| John Drake Sloat | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| 1st Military Governor of California | |
|
In office July 7 – 29, 1846 |
|
| Preceded by | Pío Pico (civil governor) |
| Succeeded by | |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
July 6, 1781 Sloat House, Sloatsburg, New York |
| Died | November 28, 1867 (aged 86) New Brighton, New York |
| Resting place | Green-Wood Cemetery, New York City |
| Awards |
Sloat The Sloat Monument in Monterey was built in his honor. |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |
 United States of America
|
| Service/branch |
 United States Navy
|
| Years of service | 1800–1861 |
| Rank |
 Commodore Rear Admiral
|
| Unit | United States |
| Commands |
Grampus St. Louis Pacific Squadron |
| Battles/wars |
War of 1812 Action of 2 March 1825 Mexican–American War |
John Drake Sloat (July 6, 1781 – November 28, 1867) was a commodore in the United States Navy who, in 1846, claimed California for the United States.
He was born at the family home of Sloat House in Sloatsburg, New York, of Dutch ancestry, and was orphaned at an early age, his father, Captain John Sloat, having been mistakenly shot and killed by one of his own sentries two months before he was born, and his mother dying a few years later. Sloat was brought up by his maternal grandparents.
Appointed midshipman in the Navy in 1800, he was sailing master of the frigate United States under Commodore Stephen Decatur during the War of 1812, and was promoted to lieutenant for conspicuous gallantry in the capture of the frigate HMS Macedonian. Sloat then commanded the schooner Grampus during which he fought the Action of 2 March 1825 against the pirate ship of Roberto Cofresí. He later served on the ships Franklin and Washington, and from 1828 commanded the sloop St. Louis with the rank of master commandant, to which he had been promoted in 1826. He was promoted to captain in 1837, and from 1840 to 1844 was in charge of the Portsmouth Navy Yard.
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