November 24, 1818: Hyppolyte Bouchard Invades Monterey Bay
November 24 1818, French-born Argentine pirate Hyppolyte Bouchard launched an attack against Spanish outposts in the Monterey Bay. His crew burned down the Monterey Presidio and raised the Argentinian flag over the city of Monterey for six days. That same day the padres of Mission Santa Cruz fled to San …
February 6, 1824: Lupugeyun Executed in Monterey
February 6 1824, Lupugeyun was executed in Monterey after being captured near San Rafael. Better known as Pomponio, the Coast Miwok rebel had led his band on daring raids of mission settlements across the Bay Area for over five years, destroying various colonial outputs.
November 10, 1849: San Francisco's First Recorded Strike
November 10 1849, San Francisco carpenters and joiners went on strike, demanding a pay increase from $12 to $16 per day. The action, which resulted in a $14 compromise, was the first recorded strike in California history.
April 14, 1858: Archy Lee Declared a Free Man
April 14 1858, Archy Lee, who had escaped slavery and was living in San Francisco, was declared a free man after winning a Fugitive Slave Act trial brought against him by his former legal “owner”. In February, the California State Supreme Court had sided with Lee’s former “owner,” Charles Stovall, …
December 1, 1868: The San Francisco branch of the International Workingmen's Association
December 1 1868, the formation of the San Francisco branch of the International Workingmen’s Association was announced at the First International’s General Council meeting.