John Whiteaker

John Whiteaker
1st Governor of Oregon
In office
July 8, 1858 – September 10, 1862
Preceded byGeorge Law Curry
as Territorial Governor
Succeeded byA. C. Gibbs
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Oregon's at-large district
In office
March 4, 1879 – March 3, 1881
Preceded byRichard Williams
Succeeded byMelvin Clark George
6th Speaker of the Oregon House of Representatives
In office
1868–1869
Preceded byFrancis A. Chenoweth
Succeeded byBenjamin Hayden
President of the Oregon State Senate
In office
1876–1879
Preceded byRobert B. Cochran
Succeeded bySolomon Hirsch
Personal details
Born(1820-05-04)May 4, 1820
Dearborn County, Indiana
DiedOctober 2, 1902(1902-10-02) (aged 82)
Eugene, Oregon
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseNancy Jane Whiteaker
Children6
ProfessionFarmer
Inaugurated in 1858, but did not assume office until statehood bill passed in February 1859.

John Whiteaker (May 4, 1820 – October 2, 1902) was an American politician, soldier, and judge. A native of Indiana, he joined the army during the Mexican–American War and then prospected during the California Gold Rush. After moving to the Oregon Territory, he served as a judge and member of the legislature. A Democrat, Whiteaker served as the first state Governor of Oregon from 1859 until 1862 and later was Oregon's Congressman from 1879 to 1881. He also was president of the Oregon State Senate and Speaker of the Oregon House of Representatives.