High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! John Bigler (January 8, 1805 November 29, 1871) was an American lawyer, politician and diplomat. A Democrat, he served as the third Governor of California from 1852 to 1856 and was the first California governor to successfully complete an entire term in office, as well as the first to win re-election. His younger brother, William Bigler, was elected Governor of Pennsylvania during the same period. Bigler was also appointed by President James Buchanan as the U.S. Minister to Chile from 1857 to 1861.