Person:Frederick Low (1)

Governor of California 1863-1869. US Representative from California 1862-63. US Minister to China 1869.

"Frederick Low, born in Maine in 1828, worked in a mercantile house and educated himself by attending lectures at the Lowell Institute and Fanueil Hall in Boston. Gold lured him to California, where in a few short months (later described as the best time of his life) he unearthed $1,500 in gold enough to set up a business in San Francisco. He prospered there as well, eventually co-owning the California Steam Navigation Company (a large river navigation company). A Unionist republican, he served in Congress and as Collector for the Port of San Francisco. As Governor, he encouraged a state university, and some consider him the founder of the University of California. Looking back on his term of office, Low once said, "There's not much chance to display one's ability in the governor's office of this state, even if you be brilliant."

Frederick Ferdinand Low (June 30, 1828 – July 21, 1894) was an American politician and diplomat who served as the ninth governor of California from 1863 to 1867. He was previously a member of the United States House of Representatives from 1862 to 1863, and later in life was appointed United States Minister to China, where he served from 1869 to 1873. ...

For more information, see the EN Wikipedia article Frederick Low.

"Frederick F. Low, just elected Governor of California by the Union Party, by a majority of some 20,000 votes, is a native of Winterport, Me. He is about thirty-five years old. At the age of twenty-one, he emigrated to California, where he has been engaged in the banking business."

9th Governor of California, December 10, 1863 - December 5, 1867 (Unionist)
Born: January 30, 1828, near Frankfort, Maine
Died: July 21, 1894, in San Francisco, California
Marriage: Mollie Creed (1850)

Frederick Low was the first California governor to serve under the four-year term rule.

Frederick grew up on a small farm in Maine. He went to public schools until he was 15, when he became an apprentice in the accounting section of a trading company in Boston. Here he heard about gold in California and on March 1, 1849, he set out by ship for the gold fields.

Career
Mining at Horseshoe Bar on the American River, Low brought in over $1,500 in gold during the summer. He used the money to get started in a mercantile and shipping business, Low Brothers Company, with his two brothers. He organized the California Steam Navigation Company in 1854, controlling river transportation to the gold mines. In 1861 he moved to San Francisco, a wealthy businessman.

Low’s first political position was in 1862 as a U.S. congressman from California. In 1863 President Lincoln appointed him as collector of the port of San Francisco, an important post during Civil War years. Here he gained the respect of the people, and easily won the election for governor in 1863.

As Governor Governor Low spoke out for fair treatment of minorities, including the Chinese and Indians who had been excluded from civil rights. He believed trade and a good relationship with China would serve California well.

As Governor, Low advanced education in the state, increasing public school attendance, encouraging the new California State Normal School, and laying the groundwork for the state university system. He oversaw the establishment of Yosemite Valley as the first state park in 1866.

Later Years
After four years as governor, Low served as Minister to China, where he is credited with arranging exchange student programs between China and the U.S. Leaving public service in 1874, Low managed the Anglo-California Bank in San Francisco for 18 years, and was president of the Sutter Street Railway Company. He was 66 years old when he died in San Francisco.