with Mexico, in 1848, had guaranteed the land grants would be recognized. During March 29–September 27, 1848 he was Juez de Paz (Justice of the Peace) of San Diego Pueblo. In 1850 he opened a store in San Diego and built the Gila House hotel. Soon after he moved to Mexico then in 1855 to Los Angeles where he died in 1859. Public perception Bandini was dressed elegantly and always gracious, and cut a refined presence wherever he went. He was known as a charming public speaker, fluent writer, excellent dancer, fair musician, and fine horseman. His home was the social center of San Diego. Bandini had a gift of sardonic humor and enjoyed sarcasm. Richard Henry Dana Jr. in Two Years Before the Mast said of him: He had a slight and elegant figure, moved gracefully, danced and waltzed beautifully, spoke the best of Castilian, with a pleasant and refined voice and accent, and had throughout the bearing of a man of high birth and figure. Seeing him again one evening, Dana said he gave us the most graceful dancing that I had ever seen. He was dressed in white pantaloons, neatly made, a short jacket of dark silk gaily figured, white stockings and thin Morocco slippers upon his very small feet. His lifestyle and hospitality often got him into trouble financially, requiring his children to bail him out in later years. Notes References Biography from San Diego Historical Society from Smythe's History of San Diego, p. 164. "The Bandini Family", The Journal of San Diego History 15:1 (Winter 1969) "Pioneer Spanish Families of California", The Journal of San Diego History 11:3 (June 1965). Reprinted from The Century Magazine XLI n.s. XIX (January 1891), by Charles Howard Shinn. 1850 Census, San Diego, California, p. 275B External links Californios Politicians from San Diego 19th-century Mexican politicians 1800 births 1859 deaths People of Mexican California People from San Diego History of Riverside, California American politicians of Peruvian descent American people of Spanish descent Peruvian emigrants to Mexico