John P. Dunn

John P. Dunn
Dunn c. 1880s
17th Controller of California
In office
January 10, 1883 – January 8, 1891
GovernorGeorge Stoneman
Washington Bartlett
Robert Waterman
Preceded byDaniel M. Kenfield
Succeeded byEdward P. Colgan
Auditor of the City and County of San Francisco
In office
November 14, 1879 – December 4, 1881
Preceded byColin M. Boyd
Succeeded byHenry Brickwedel
Personal details
Born(1852-04-11)April 11, 1852
Ireland
DiedMay 29, 1906(1906-05-29) (aged 54)
Monrovia, California, U.S.
PartyWorkingmen's (before 1881)
Democratic (after 1881)
Spouse
Mary Mahoney
​
(m. 1880)​
Children
  • Walter
  • May
  • John Jr.
  • Theresa
EducationCornell University
Our Lady of Angels Seminary
OccupationClerk, merchant, politician

John Patrick Dunn (April 11, 1852 – May 29, 1906)[1] was an Irish American clerk, merchant[2] and politician who served as auditor of San Francisco from 1879 to 1881 and as the 17th controller of California from 1883 to 1891.[3] He was the last Democrat to hold the latter office until the election of Alan Cranston in 1958.[4]

Political career

Dunn entered politics as a member of the Workingmen's Party of California,[5] serving as secretary of their first state convention in 1878.[6] He was elected auditor of San Francisco the following year and was allowed to take office a month early due to the death of previous auditor George F. Maynard.[7][8] According to the San Francisco Chronicle, Dunn became a naturalized citizen just 23 days before the election.[9]

During his tenure, Dunn was criticized for hiring relatives[10][11] but praised for his otherwise strong opposition to corruption.[12] He ran for reelection two years later on a Democratic-Workingmen's-Citizen's Taxpayers Fusion ticket,[13] but was defeated in the face of opposition from the Spring Valley Water and San Francisco Gas Companies.[1]

In 1882, Dunn was elected California State Controller with 53% of the vote. He was reelected four years later by a margin of 636 votes, and was defeated for a third term in 1890.[3] During his tenure, he was again praised for his "sterling honesty,"[14] accusing Secretary of State Daniel M. Burns of graft[1] and securing thousands of dollars for the state from tax evaders.[12]

Dunn was later appointed register of the San Francisco Land Office by president Grover Cleveland, serving from 1894 to 1898.[12] He was an unsuccessful candidate for the State Board of Equalization in 1898, losing by just 4% of the vote.[3]

Personal life

Dunn's eldest son, Walter, served as president of the Monrovia Board of Trustees from 1916 to 1924. His other son, John Jr., served as city attorney of Monrovia from 1916 to 1924.[12] His granddaughter, Maryalice Lemmon, served as secretary to governor Pat Brown.[15]

  • "The Sand Lot's New Organ"
    "The Sand Lot's New Organ"
  • "The Elaine"
    "The Elaine"
  • "Phryne Melone"
    "Phryne Melone"
  • "He Don't Think It Real Money—Only Political Capital"
    "He Don't Think It Real Money—Only Political Capital"

References

  1. ^ a b c "MADE A MARK IN POLITICS". Los Angeles Daily Times. Los Angeles. May 30, 1906. Retrieved November 21, 2025.
  2. ^ "LOCAL POLITICS". The Daily Examiner. San Francisco. August 24, 1881. Retrieved November 21, 2025.
  3. ^ a b c "John P. Dunn". JoinCalifornia. Retrieved November 21, 2025.
  4. ^ "May Lemmon Rites Scheduled Today". The Sacramento Union. Sacramento. March 21, 1967. Retrieved November 21, 2025.
  5. ^ "Stockton Pair Gone Century Makes New 'Wanted' List". The Modesto Bee. Modesto. December 8, 1963. Retrieved November 21, 2025.
  6. ^ Davis, Winfield J. (1893). History of Political Conventions in California, 1849-1892. Sacramento: California State Library. p. 377. Retrieved November 21, 2025.
  7. ^ "THE AUDITORSHIP". The Daily Examiner. San Francisco. October 16, 1879. Retrieved November 21, 2025.
  8. ^ "IN OFFICE". San Francisco Chronicle. San Francisco. November 15, 1879. Retrieved November 21, 2025.
  9. ^ "AUDITOR DUNN". San Francisco Chronicle. San Francisco. November 16, 1879. Retrieved November 21, 2025.
  10. ^ "THE DEMOCRATIC TICKET". San Francisco News Letter. 32 (51): 2. July 1, 1881. Retrieved November 21, 2025.
  11. ^ "A Family Well Provided For". San Francisco Chronicle. San Francisco. September 6, 1881. Retrieved November 21, 2025.
  12. ^ a b c d Wiley, John L. (1927). History of Monrovia. Pasadena: Press of Pasadena Star-News. pp. 201–203. Retrieved November 21, 2025.
  13. ^ "FOR AUDITOR, JOHN P. DUNN". The Wasp. Vol. 7, no. 266. September 2, 1881. p. 156. Retrieved November 21, 2025.
  14. ^ "But little attention has been paid". The Evening Bee. Sacramento. May 31, 1906. Retrieved November 21, 2025.
  15. ^ "Cranston Hunts Photos Of Five Predecessors". The Sacramento Bee. Sacramento. November 22, 1963. Retrieved November 21, 2025.

Sources

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