peter hardeman burnett (november 15, 1807 – may 17, 1895) was an american politician. he was the first governor of california as a state in the u.s. and a white supremacist. he tried to ban black people from california and supported genocide of the state's indigenous peoples. he was governor from december 20, 1849 to january 9, 1851. he was also the first california governor to resign.