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John Gately Downey

John Gately Downey

Born
1827-06-02 12:00:00
Died
1894-03-01 12:00:00
Gender
Male

John Gately Downey (1827–1894) was an Irish-American politician and the seventh governor of California from 1860 to 1862. Until the election of Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2003, Downey was the only governor of California to be born outside the United States. Downey was also the first man from Southern California to be elected as governor.

Downey was born on June 24, 1827 in the townland of Castlesampson, Taughmaconnell parish, County Roscommon, in central Ireland, to Denis Downey and Bridget Gately. Castlesampson is 12 kilometres west of the town of Athlone.

He emigrated with his family at the age of 14 to the United States in 1842, before the famine years. Settling in Charles County, Maryland, the Downeys joined two stepsisters who had already settled in the U.S.

For more about John G Downey see Wikipedia

 

Associated communities

Taghmaconnell (Roscommon)

Our aim is to connect all people with a link to Taghmaconnell (Roscommon). You may live here, have visited here or maybe are tracing ancestors who left long ago. In any case, we’re sure to have lots to share and are delighted to welcome you.

Other ancestors in this community

  • Edward Fallon

    Location: Taghmaconnell (Roscommon)

    Born: 1840-01-01 12:00:00

  • John Shaw

    Location: Taghmaconnell (Roscommon)

    Born: 1790-11-12 12:00:00

  • William Nicholas Keogh

    Location: Taghmaconnell (Roscommon)

    Born: 1817-01-01 12:00:00

  • Ignatius Keogh

    Location: Taghmaconnell (Roscommon)

    Born: 1772-01-01 12:00:00

Buildings in this community

No buildings are associated with this community.

Timeline events in this community

  • 1830s

    Taghmaconnell in the 1830s

    <p>A snapshot of pre-famine local history, as described by Samuel Lewis in the "Topographical Dictionary of Ireland" 1837.</p>

    1837-01-01 12:00:00

  • 1850s

    Griffith's Valuation of Ballinasloe Union

    <p>The primary valuation of Ireland or Griffith's Valuation is a useful Census substitute for 19th-century Ireland. To confirm whether an ancestor could possibly be the individual listed, it is helpful to know the survey completion date for a parish (or the part of it that fell within the Poor Law Union surveyed).</p>

    1855-12-17 12:00:00

  • 1850s

    Griffith's Valuation of Athlone Union

    <p>The primary valuation of Ireland or Griffith's Valuation is a useful Census substitute for 19th-century Ireland. To confirm whether an ancestor could possibly be the individual listed, it is helpful to know the survey completion date for a parish (or the part of it that fell within the Poor Law Union surveyed). </p> <p>A total of 301 volumes were published between 1847-1864 and the precise completion date for this PLU was recorded on the title page of Volume #244.</p>

    1855-07-14 12:00:00