President Barack Obama travels to Denmark to bring home the Gold

William Alexander Leidesdorff, Jr. Day 2009

Proposed Proclamation from the President of the United States of America

WHEREAS, On October 23, 1810, William Alexander Leidesdorff Jr. was the first born child of Anna Marie Sparks, an African Cuban woman, and William Leidesdorff Sr. a Danish Jewish man; of Spring Garden Estate, St. Croix Danish West Indies, today's U.S. Virgin Islands, and,

WHEREAS, Anna Marie Sparks, is thought born in the capitol city of Havana,Cuba. King Philip II of Spain granted Havana the title "Key to the New World and Rampart of the West Indies. Wilhelm Leidesdorf, thought born in Altona, Denmark, King Frederik III Altona became an important harbour towns and majory center of Jewish life and scholarship; William Alexander Leidesdorff, Jr. was reportedly educated in Flensburg, Denmark the major port of entry for products from the Danish West Indies;and,

WHEREAS, In 1834, William Alexander Leidesdorff Jr. was naturalized as a U.S. citizen in New Orleans, Louisiana to become a successful maritime captain operating base the Port of New Orleans. He made extensive voyages to the major ports throughout the Caribbean Basin and United States of America upon ships owned by the leading business companies of the day, and,

WHEREAS, In 1838, William Alexander Leidesdorff Jr. migrated from the Port of New Orleans to the Port of New York after the tragic death of his fiance' and strict enforcement of the Louisiana Negro Seamen Acts prohibiting the continuation of his lucrative maritime trade and commerce business in New Orleans, and,

WHEREAS, In 1841, William Alexander Leidesdorff, Jr. sailed the U.S. commercial shipping vessel, the Julia Ann, into the sleepy Mexican fishing village of Yerba Buena, forever transforming the City of San Francisco into a cosmpolitian world maritime center, and,

WHEREAS, In 1843, William Alexander Leidesdorff Jr. was naturalized a Mexican citizen, as required, to facilitate acquiring a vast land grant from the Mexican authorities. Leidesdorff Ranch, over 35,000 acres of prime real estate along the south bank of the American River. His agricultural international trade and commerce development that helped to stabilize pre-Gold Rush Sacramento Valley; and,

WHEREAS, In 1845, William Alexander Leidesdorff Jr. accepted the position of United States Vice-Consul at the Port of San Francisco, serving the Mexican Alta California region and for serving our nation in this capacity, he became the first U.S. African-American Diplomat in U.S. history, affectionately known as the "African Founding Father of California"; and,

WHEREAS, In 1846, William Alexander Leidesdorff Jr. was an active leader in the Bear Flag Revolt during the Mexican-American War of 1846-1848 and his official government report of the U.S. acquisition of California from Mexico captured the singular event that sparked the Bear Flag Revolt beginning at Murhpy's Corral, near today's City of Elk Grove; and,

WHEREAS, In 1847, William Alexander Leidesdorff Jr. captained the first and only steam ship, the Sitka, in California prior to the Gold Rush and his maiden steam voyage on the San Francisco Bay immortalized on the California State Seal and recognizes his vision for increased maritime transportation of California's agricultural products to world markets; and,

WHEREAS, William Alexander Leidesdorff Jr., a leading civic leader and pioneer in the successful quest for California to become the 31st State in the United States, was elected Treasurer in San Francisco, owned the largest home, constructed the first City Hotel, built the first commercial shipping warehouse and was President of the first Public School Board in California, leading construction of the first Public School of Education in California.

WHEREAS, In 1848, William Alexander Leidesdorff Jr. received official reports and verified documentation of vast quantities of gold on his immense cattle and wheat ranch along the American River. In April 1848, a month before his untimely death he personally inspected Leidesdorff Ranch and surrounding of the Gold Rush District.

WHEREAS, It is a fitting tribute to the legacy of a great California Pioneer that the United States of America celebrate "William Alexander Leidesdorff Jr. Day", October 23, 2009; and support the establishment of a William Alexander Leidesdorff, Jr. Bicentennial Commission to provide advice and assistance to carry out appropriate activities to honor the occasion of the 200th Anniversary of his birth, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the William Alexander Leidesdorff, Jr. Day is proclaimed by President of the United States of America.