John Sharpenstein Hager (March 12, 1818March 19, 1890) was an American politician from the state of California. He served in the U.S. Senate from 1873 to 1875. Life Hager was born near Morristown, New Jersey, on March 12, 1818. He completed preparatory studies and graduated from the College of New Jersey (later named Princeton University) in 1836. Hager studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1840, practicing in Morristown. In 1849, Hager moved to California and engaged in mining during the California Gold Rush. He practiced law in San Francisco and was a member of the 1849 California Constitutional Convention. Hager served in the California Senate from 1852 to 1854, before being elected as a state district judge for the district of San Francisco in 1855. Hagar remained a district judge until 1861. In 1865, Hager returned to the state senate, serving until 1871, when he was elected a regent of the University of California Hager was elected as an Anti-Monopoly Democrat to the U.S. Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Eugene Casserly and served from December 23, 1873, to March 4, 1875. He was not a candidate for renomination in 1874. In 1879, Hager was a member of the state constitutional convention. He was collector of customs of the port of San Francisco from 1885 to 1889. Hager died in San Francisco on March 19, 1890, one week after his 72nd birthday, and was interred at Bellefontaine Cemetery in St. Louis, Missouri. References 1818 births 1890 deaths People from Morristown, New Jersey Princeton University alumni Democratic Party United States senators from California Democratic Party California state senators 19th-century American politicians