John Gately Downey (June 24, 1827 – March 1, 1894) was an Irish-American politician and Governor of California from January 14, 1860 to January 10, 1862. Until the election of Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2003, Downey was California's only foreign-born governor. Downey was also the first Southern Californian to assume the governorship.
Downey was born in the townland of Castlesampson, Taughmaconnell parish, County Roscommon, in central Ireland, to De...
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John Gately Downey (June 24, 1827 – March 1, 1894) was an Irish-American politician and Governor of California from January 14, 1860 to January 10, 1862. Until the election of Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2003, Downey was California's only foreign-born governor. Downey was also the first Southern Californian to assume the governorship.
Downey was born in the townland of Castlesampson, Taughmaconnell parish, County Roscommon, in central Ireland, to Denis Downey and Bridget Gately on June 24, 1827. Castlesampson is West of the present day town of Athlone, Ireland. Educated in Ireland, Downey's family immigrated to the United States in 1842 at the age of 14. Settling in Charles County, Maryland, the Downeys joined two stepsisters who had already settled in the U.S.. However by 1844, by age 16, dwindling family finances forced Downey to halt his education and become independent. He apprenticed at an apothecary in Washington, D.C. until 1846. Downey afterwards relocated to Cincinnati, Ohio,...
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