Charles Maclay

Charles Maclay (November 9, 1822 – July 19, 1890) was a California state senator and is known for his act of purchasing a 56,000 acre land grant in 1874, what was known as San Fernando Rancho. Maclay displaced and, the tribe argues, illegally removed the Tataviam people from their land.[1] Maclay used the land he took to become the founder of the city of San Fernando, California in the San Fernando Valley.

History

Charles Maclay's heritage was Scots-Irish. He was the brother of Robert Samuel Maclay, a pioneer missionary to China; and the uncle of Robert Maclay Widney, a founder of the University of Southern California, and of Joseph Widney, the second president of the University of Southern California. Maclay was a Methodist minister.

Charles Maclay, an abolitionist,[2] became a California State Assemblyman in the 7th District from Santa Clara County (1861-1863) and later a California State Senator (1867-1872).[3]

In 1867, when the seat held by State Senator William J. Knox came open after Knox's unexpected death, The San Jose Mercury, campaigned for Maclay with the popular song "Wha'll be King but Charlie?" (Scots for "Who'll be king but Charlie.")[2]

San Fernando Valley, California

In 1874, Maclay purchased a 56,000 acre land grant in 1874, what was known as San Fernando Rancho. He then displaced and, the tribe argues, illegally removed the Tataviam people from their land.[1]

In 1882, cousins George K. Porter and Benjamin F. Porter, owner of future Porter Ranch, each received one-third of the total land.

Maclay School of Theology, in San Fernando, California circa 1890.

In 1885, Maclay founded the Maclay School of Theology, a Methodist seminary in his newly founded town of San Fernando, California.[4] After his death it became an affiliate and moved to the campus of the University of Southern California before becoming the Claremont School of Theology in 1957.

Legacy

  • Mainly, Maclay is known for his act of purchasing a 56,000 acre land grant in 1874, what was known as San Fernando Rancho, Maclay ruthlessly displaced and, the tribe believes, illegally removed the Tataviam people from their land.[1]
  • City of San Fernando
  • Claremont School of Theology
  • Charles Maclay Junior High School, Pacoima, California: in 1960, the High School opened in his honor. In the late 1990s the school was renamed the Charles Maclay Middle School. Their slogan is Home of the Scotsman and uniforms sport their school colors green, white, and grey.
  • Maclay Street is a central thoroughfare through the City of San Fernando, crossing from Laurel Canyon Boulevard to Pacoima Canyon Road.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 Gonzalez, Guadalupe; Terry, Mike. "Maclay's Descendants Make Their Case to not Rename Street". San Fernando Sun. Retrieved November 16, 2020.
  2. 1 2 Hodges, Hugh T. "Charles Maclay: California Missionary, San Fernando Valley Pioneer: PART II", Southern California Quarterly, vol. 68, no. 3, 1986, pp. 207–256. JSTOR. Accessed January 24, 2020.(subscription required)
  3. ↑ "The Inimitable Charles Maclay". Retrieved December 8, 2022.
  4. ↑ Hunt, Thomas C.; James C. Carper (1996). Religious Higher Education in the United States: A Source Book. Taylor & Francis. p. 474. ISBN 978-0-8153-1636-7. Retrieved 2009-02-01.
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