Founding of Stockton

The history and founding of Stockton begin with two main influential figures: Captain Charles M. Weber and Commodore Robert F. Stockton. Commodore Robert F. Stockton was an experienced naval officer who played a significant leadership role in California's annexation in 1846 during the Mexican-American War. Captain Charles M. Weber was born in Germany on February 16, 1814. He immigrated to the United States in 1836 at 22 years of age and eventually made his way to California with the Bidwell-Bartleson Party in 1841. While passing through the land, Weber saw great development potential near the San Joaquin River, which led him to obtain a Mexican land grant of 49,000 acres called "Rancho Campo de los Franceses," where he established a settlement that would later become the city of Stockton. He sold supplies to gold miners and attracted many settlers to the then-small village. The city was officially named Stockton on July 23, 1850, after Weber decided to honor Commodore Stockton for his contributions to the region.

Weber served on Stockton's first city council, and the city elected its first mayor, Samuel Purdy, who served from 1850 to 1851. Purdy later went on to serve as the third lieutenant governor of California from 1852 to 1856.