John McDougall (California politician)

John McDougall
Portrait of McDougall by William F. Cogswell
2nd Governor of California
In office January 9, 1851 – January 8, 1852
Lieutenant	David C. Broderick (acting)
Preceded by	Peter H. Burnett
Succeeded by	John Bigler
1st Lieutenant Governor of California
In office December 20, 1849 – January 9, 1851
Governor	Peter Burnett
Preceded by	Position established
Succeeded by	David C. Broderick as Acting Lieutenant Governor
Personal details
Born	ca. 1818 (1818) Union, Ohio
Died	March 30, 1866 (aged 47–48) San Francisco, California
Political party	Independent Democrat
Profession	Miner politician

John McDougall (ca. 1818 – March 30, 1866) was an American politician who served as the second Governor of California from January 9, 1851 until January 8, 1852, as well as, prior thereto, the first Lieutenant Governor of California, from 1849 to 1851.

McDougall was born in Union, Ohio ca. 1818 to John McDougall, an Ohio state representative from 1813–1815, and Margaret Stockton. The family produced four other sons: William Creighton McDougall, married to abolitionist Frances Harriet Whipple Green McDougall; Dr. Charles McDougal, surgeon in the US Army; Admiral David McDougal, commander of USS Wyoming during the Battle of Shimonoseki; and George P. McDougall, California and Colorado pioneer. The family later moved to Indianapolis.

In 1846 McDougall joined the Indiana Volunteer Infantry as a lieutenant in the 1st Indiana Volunteer Infantry Regiment and served in the Mexican-American War. He was soon elected as captain of Company H. He later re-enlisted in the 5th Indiana Volunteer Infantry Regiment.

In 1848, after the Mexican-American War, McDougall moved to California, arriving in 1849 aboard SS California with his wife Jane and their daughter Sue. He worked as a miner and then a merchant during the gold rush. Shortly after his arrival, he entered into the new territory's politics, attending the first constitutional convention in Monterey in 1849. McDougall was one of the original signers of the Constitution of California. During the convention, McDougall was nominated for lieutenant governor, whereupon he remarked, “I reckon I'll take that. I don't believe anyone else will have it.” After defeating five other contenders for the office, McDougall was sworn in as the state's first lieutenant governor in December 1849, along with Peter Burnett, the state's first governor.