Charles Maclay


Charles Maclay was a California State Senator and the founder of the city of San Fernando, California in the San Fernando Valley.

History

Charles Maclay's heritage was from Ireland and Scotland. He was the brother of Robert Samuel Maclay, a pioneer missionary to China; and the uncle of Robert Maclay Widney, a founder of the University of Southern California, and of Joseph Widney, the second president of the University of Southern California. Maclay was a Methodist minister.
Charles Maclay, an abolitionist, became a California State Assemblyman in the 7th District from Santa Clara County and later a California State Senator. In 1867 when the seat held by State Senator William J. Knox came open with Knox's unexpected death, The San Jose Mercury, campaigned for Maclay with the popular song "Wha'll be King but Charlie?"

San Fernando Valley, California

In 1874, Charles Maclay bought of the Rancho Ex-Mission San Fernando land grant including the northern half of the San Fernando Valley north of the city of Los Angeles. In 1882, cousins George K. Porter and Benjamin F. Porter, owner of future Porter Ranch, each received one-third of the total land.
circa 1890.In 1885, Maclay founded the Maclay School of Theology, a Methodist seminary in his newly founded town of San Fernando, California. After his death it became an affiliate and moved to the campus of the University of Southern California before becoming the Claremont School of Theology in 1957.

Legacy