John Bigler
USABiography of John Bigler
John Bigler, the former Governor of California, was born in Pennsylvania in 1805. He initially worked as a printer's assistant and editor for a newspaper in his hometown. However, during the Gold Rush in the mid-19th century, Bigler decided to travel to California. He led a herd of cattle to the state and eventually settled there.
During the cholera epidemic of 1850, Bigler gained fame as a fearless fighter against the disease. He risked his own life to help isolate the sick and burn the bodies of the deceased. Despite his efforts, Bigler himself contracted cholera but miraculously survived.
In 1852, Bigler was elected as the Governor of California for a four-year term. Interestingly, his brother also served as the Governor of Pennsylvania during the same period. As Governor, Bigler oversaw the first official census of California in 1852, which revealed a population of 255,000 people. He also designated the city of Sacramento as the state capital, a title it still holds to this day.
In recognition of his contributions, the state legislature named a lake after Bigler in 1856. However, the lake was later renamed Lake Tahoe in 1870. John Bigler passed away in 1871, marking the end of his remarkable journey.
