George LeBreton

(Redirected from George W. LeBreton)

George W. LeBreton (1810 – March 4, 1844) was a pioneer politician in the Oregon Country and served as the official recorder in the Provisional Government of Oregon. He was born in Massachusetts.[1]

George LeBreton
Recorder for the Provisional Government of Oregon
In office
1841–1844
Preceded byposition created
Succeeded byOverton Johnson
ConstituencyOregon Country
Personal details
Born1810
Massachusetts
DiedMarch 4, 1844(1844-03-04) (aged 33–34)
Oregon

LeBreton traveled to Oregon in 1840 aboard the vessel Maryland of Captain John H. Couch, an early sea merchant in Portland.[2][3] On 18 February 1841, he was elected as the recorder for the Champoeg Meetings and for the probate court that was created.[1] In 1843, when the provisional government was formed, he was again elected as the recorder, the forerunner to the office of Secretary of State.[1]

Death and legacy edit

LeBreton was a key figure in the Cockstock incident of 4 March 1844. A group of settlers, led by LeBreton tried to capture Cockstock, a Molala man. During the ensuing violence LeBreton was stabbed, shot, and killed by Cockstock.[4] In turn, his attacker was killed by Winslow Armstrong. In the aftermath a militia unit called the Oregon Rangers was formed.[2][4]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b c Oregon Blue Book: Oregon Secretary of State Agency History, page 11. Oregon Secretary of State. Retrieved on April 28, 2021.
  2. ^ a b Brown, J. Henry (1892). Brown's Political History of Oregon: Provisional Government. Wiley B. Allen.
  3. ^ Flora, Stephenie. Emigrants to Oregon in 1840. Oregon Pioneers. Retrieved on September 25, 2007.
  4. ^ a b Horner, John B. (1921). Oregon: Her History, Her Great Men, Her Literature. Corvallis, Oregon: John B. Horner. pp. 125, 153–4, 176. OCLC 2959122. OL 13573540M. Retrieved February 22, 2018.