Bennet Riley

Bennet Riley (or Bennett) (1790–June 6, 1853) was the seventh military governor of California, serving in 1849, before the territory became a U.S. state. Born in 1790 in St. Mary's County, Maryland, he led the first military escort along the Santa Fe Trail in 1829. During the Mexican War, Riley was colonel of the 2nd U.S. Infantry and fought at the siege of Veracruz and battle of Cerro Gordo. He was brevetted brigadier general and assumed command of the 2nd Brigade in David E. Twiggs's Second Division. He led his brigade at the battles of Contreras and Churubusco, where Winfield Scott gave him credit for the U.S. victory. He was appointed brevet major general fought at the Chapultepec. He is generally considered one of the ablest brigade commanders in the army during the war with Mexico. After the war he was placed in command of the Department of the Pacific and served as the military governor of California. He died in 1853 in Buffalo, New York.