William E. Shannon
Nonpartisan
| Date | Party | Office | Votes | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 08-01-1849 | Nonpartisan | Delegate | 0 | Win |
| 11-13-1849 | Nonpartisan | CD-AL | 1327 | Loss |
| 10-07-1850 | Unknown | SD-12 | 860 | Loss |
Candidate Biography:
Born: 1822 in Ireland
Military Service: ARMY (Mexican-American War)
Died: November 3, 1850 in Sacramento, CA
1849: Appointed Alcalde of Placerville
1849: Delegate, First California Constitutional Convention (representing Sacramento District)
- It was Shannon who lobbied the other Delegates and eventually "secured the declaration in California's Bill of Rights that neither slavery or involuntary servitude, unless for the punishment of crimes, shall ever be tolerated in this state." (Source: Unknown)
- During the debate on the inclusion of a ban on dueling in the state constitution, Mr. Shannon noted "A constitution is a general system of laws - an instrument not designed to contain enactments which are properly the subject of legislation or regulations concerning the acts of individuals. It lays down the great landmarks; it embodies the great principles upon which the government of the State is to be founded."
Source: History of Political Conventions in California, 1849-1892 by Winfield J. Davis (1893)
Source: Governmental Roster, 1889. State and County Governments of California by W. C. Hendricks