Pierce H. Ryan

Pierce H. Ryan
Member of the California Senate
from the 27th district
In office
January 5, 1880 – January 5, 1885
Preceded byRobert McGarvey
Succeeded byBelden G. Hurlburt
Personal details
Born(1829-11-03)November 3, 1829
DiedNovember 7, 1889(1889-11-07) (aged 60)
PartyDemocratic (before 1879, after 1881)
Workingmen's (1879–1881)
SpouseAnnie B. Rice
Children6
OccupationMerchant, military officer, politician
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/serviceCalifornia National Guard
Years of service1876–1886
RankMajor
Unit6th Brigade, Eureka Guard

Pierce Howard Ryan (November 3, 1829 – November 7, 1889)[1] was an Irish American merchant, military officer and politician who served in the California State Senate from 1880 to 1885.[2][3] Elected as a member of the Workingmen's Party of California, he entered politics as a Douglas Democrat[4] and rejoined the party following the WPC's collapse.[5]

Ryan was previously appointed Humboldt Harbor Commissioner in 1870,[6] engrossing clerk of the State Senate in 1875,[7] and notary public for Humboldt County in 1877.[8] He also served as a major in the California National Guard from 1876[9] to 1886.[10] He belonged to the same unit as future governor James Gillett,[11] and the two men were active together in Eureka's anti-Chinese movement.[12]

In 1886, Ryan was nominated for register of the Eureka Land Office by president Grover Cleveland.[13] Less than a month later, the nomination was withdrawn due to the opposition of senator George Hearst and representative Barclay Henley;[14] Ryan's previous defection to the WPC had made him a controversial figure in the Democratic Party.[15]

References

  1. ^ "Local News". Ferndale Enterprise. Ferndale. November 15, 1889. Retrieved November 16, 2025.
  2. ^ "Pierce H. Ryan". JoinCalifornia. Retrieved November 16, 2025.
  3. ^ Contreras, Erika. "Record of State Senators 1849–2020" (PDF). secretary.senate.ca.gov. Secretary of the California State Senate. p. 83. Retrieved November 16, 2025.
  4. ^ Mohan, Hugh J.; Clough, E. H.; Cosgrave, John P. (1880). Pen Pictures of Our Representative Men. Sacramento: H. A. Weaver's Valley Press. pp. 13–14. Retrieved November 16, 2025.
  5. ^ "THE LEGISLATURE". The Sacramento Union. Sacramento. January 1, 1883. Retrieved November 16, 2025.
  6. ^ "A GOOD APPOINTMENT". The Daily Examiner. San Francisco. August 1, 1870. Retrieved November 16, 2025.
  7. ^ "STATE LEGISLATURE". Oakland Daily Transcript. Oakland. December 8, 1875. Retrieved November 16, 2025.
  8. ^ "LOCAL BREVITIES". The Daily Bee. Sacramento. May 17, 1877. Retrieved November 16, 2025.
  9. ^ "LOCAL BREVITIES". The Daily Bee. Sacramento. May 2, 1876. Retrieved November 16, 2025.
  10. ^ "Company Orders, No. 2". Daily Humboldt Standard. Eureka. February 17, 1886. Retrieved November 16, 2025.
  11. ^ "Californians and the Military; James Norris Gillett". militarymuseum.org. California State Military Museum. Retrieved November 16, 2025.
  12. ^ "DOOMED!". Daily Humboldt Standard. Eureka. February 8, 1886. Retrieved November 16, 2025.
  13. ^ "STATE AND NATION". San Francisco Chronicle. San Francisco. June 26, 1886. Retrieved November 16, 2025.
  14. ^ "TO-DAY'S DISPATCHES". Dispatch and Democrat. Ukiah. September 1, 1882. Retrieved November 16, 2025.
  15. ^ "HON. P. H. RYAN NOMINATED". Oakland Tribune. Oakland. July 13, 1886. Retrieved November 16, 2025.

Sources