Stephen Clark Foster

A Yale graduate and practicing physician in Missouri, Stephen Foster arrived in California in 1847 to interpret for the Mormon Batallion. Foster held the equivalent office of Mayor for more than two years (prior to California becoming a state), having been appointed to the previously Mexican office of "Alcade" by the military Governor of California. His first office after statehood was on the City Council. He was subsequently elected to the office of Mayor in 1854, but during an interregnum after this term, a period lasting twelve days, Los Angeles had no Mayor. He then served a three-and-one-half month term, followed by Dr. Thomas Foster for one term, and then served another partial term in 1856. As Mayor, his term was distinguished by his participation in vigilante committees and once headed a lynch mob. Foster later helped draft California's constitution, and served in the State Senate. A different "Stephen Clark Foster" from Maine served in the 35th-36th U.S. Congress, March 1857 to March 1861.

Mayor of Los Angeles 1-Jan-1848 to statehood in 1850

Mayor of Los Angeles 4-May-1854 to 13-Jan-1855

Mayor of Los Angeles 25-Jan-1855 to 9-May-1855

Mayor of Los Angeles 7-May-1856 to 22-Sep-1856

Source http://www.nndb.com/people/693/000050543/

Stephen C. Foster was born in Maine in 1820. He arrived in Los Angeles with the Mormon battalion of Missouri Volunteers, March 16, 1847. On January 1, 1848, Colonel R. B. Mason appointed him Alcalde of the city, and in this capacity and that of interpreter he served until May 17, 1849. Mr. Foster has been at different times Mayor, Prefect, and State Senator. He being an accomplished Spanish scholar, his services were valuable in many ways in the community when a large proportion of the people spoke only that language, and when the archives and laws were wholly recorded in Spanish. Mr. Foster still lives, and his intimate acquaintance with public affairs and his wonderfully retentive memory make him a perfect cyclopedia of information regarding persons and events in the past in this section. Mr. Foster married one of the daughters of Antonio Maria Lugo.

Source http://www.calarchives4u.com/history/losangeles/socal1890-752.htm