Dennis Gahagan facts for kids

Dennis Gahagan was born around 1817 in Ireland. He moved to the United States in the early 1840s. Later, he became an important person in the early days of San Diego, California.

A New Life in America

Dennis Gahagan left his home in Ireland and came to the United States in the 1840s. He joined the U.S. Army during a time when they were looking for soldiers for the Mexican–American War.

Fighting in the Mexican-American War

By 1849, Dennis Gahagan arrived in San Diego as a soldier. He was part of the First U.S. Artillery. During the war, he and his fellow soldiers helped patrol and fight in Southern California.

Becoming a Leader in San Diego

After the war, California was still a territory, not yet a U.S. state. In 1849, Dennis Gahagan was chosen to be a U.S. Judge for the San Diego area. From 1849 to 1850, he also served as an Alcalde, which was like being the mayor of San Diego. This shows he was a key leader in the growing town.