Major General Bennet Riley died on June 9, 1853 at the age of 65. Born in Maryland in 1787, he volunteered for service in the War of 1812, during which he served as a Lieutenant in the United States Army Corps of Riflemen. He was, for a time, commander of the Buffalo Barracks in Buffalo, N.Y. He went on to fight the Mexican War and in Indian wars across a number of frontier states and territories. After the Mexican War, he was appointed as the sixth and last Military Governor of California by President James Polk. During his time in this position, Riley ordered the election of representatives to a state constitutional convention, and handed over all civil authority to a Governor and elected delegates at the end of 1849. The following year, California joined the U.S. as a state. After this Riley retired and lived in Buffalo. His home was on the west side of Main Street just south of Northampton St. Riley Street in Buffalo is named after him, as is Fort Riley in Kansas - one of just three generals for whom a military post is named. Major General Bennet Riley is buried in section E in Forest Lawn.