San Francisco's First Harbormaster
To California by Sea, James Delgado (pp 102-103) ". . . The Legislative Assembly of the District of San Francisco considered the appointment of a harbormaster during two weeks of meetings commencing on March 17, 1849. On April 3, 1849, it passed a law establishing the office and appointed Captain Edward A. King to the position. The assembly quickly moved to inform the newly appointed harbormaster of his responsibilities: In view of the approaching bad weather and heavy winds, as well as for the safety of private property and the promotion of the commerce of the town, the Council request the Harbor Master to have all vessels, not receiving or discharging cargoes, removed to Wood Island or to the south side of Rincon Point.
"The first ordinance passed by the newly incorporated City of San Francisco regulated the duties of the harbormaster. Passed by the board of aldermen on May 15, 1850, and hastily approved by Major Jonathan Geary on May 16, ordinance no 1. ordained that: The Harbor Master shall have all the power and authority vested in the corporation of this city, to regulate and control the position of the steamers, sailing vessels, or other craft lying and situated in the harbor . . . He shall, whenever it is deemed advisable, cause any steamer, sailing vessel, or other craft to change its position . . . It shall be the duty of the Harbor Master to keep an open and free passage to all wharves of the city.
San Francisco's First Harbormater
"The harbormaster was given the power to call upon the 'mayor, marshal, and police of the city, to aid and assist him.' When the appointment of Captain King was approved by the military governor of California, Brevet Brigadier General Bennett Riley, on June 19, 1849, the harbormaster was ready for business."
King ordered all 'merchant ships in this harbor will clear hawser on or before the 15th instant, and cockbill their lower yards.' Clearing the crowded anchorage, replete with ships tangling in one another's moorings and rigging, was an impossible task for one man, so King's wise decision to order each master or owner to attend to his own vessel solved the problem for the entire harbor.
Edward A. King served as San Francisco's appointed harbormaster through the end of 1849.