Joshua Bean
1st Mayor of San Diego
In office June 17, 1850 – January 14, 1851
Preceded by	Position established
Succeeded by	David B. Kurtz
Personal details
Born	c. 1818 Mason County, Kentucky
Died	November 7, 1852 (aged 33–34) Los Angeles, California

Joshua H. Bean (c. 1818 – November 7, 1852) was an American political figure.

Joshua Bean was born c. 1818 in Mason County, Kentucky, to Phantly Roy Bean (November 21, 1804 – June 13, 1844) and his wife Anna Gore. His paternal grandparents were Benjamin Bean and his wife Fernetta Johnston, daughter of Archibald Johnston. Both grandparents were born in Virginia. Bean had a brother Roy, named for their father. He later achieved notability as a judge on the New Mexico frontier, known as Judge Roy Bean.

Joshua Bean served with Zachary Taylor in the Mexican–American War and went to California in 1849. He settled in San Diego in 1850, where he was a trader and saloon owner.^[1]

Bean was soon appointed Major General of the State Militia. He led forces to crush the Antonio Garra revolt in 1851.^[2] Later he had a small role in preventing the massacre of John Edward Irvine near Redlands, California.

San Diego was incorporated by the California State Legislature in 1850. Bean, the last alcalde of San Diego,^[3] was elected mayor in the first election under the charter on June 16.^[4] Bean was the first mayor of San Diego and served from 1850 until 1851.^[5] While mayor, he illegally "sold" City Hall and city pueblo lands to himself and his drinking buddy Lieutenant Cave J. Couts (the City Hall was recovered).

In 1851 he moved to Los Angeles, where he kept a saloon and store in Mission San Gabriel, which he called the Headquarters. In 1852 he was ambushed and killed, just outside Mission San Gabriel, during an argument over a woman. Four males were accused of his murder, and were executed. But, officials learned later that the son of Victoria Reid was responsible for Bean's death.^[6]

Reyes Feliz, a Hispanic youth, was one of those charged in the murder of Bean. He had given evidence that he had overheard men saying that the killer was the California Bandito Joaquin Murieta.^[7]

Bean's brother Roy took over the saloon, and operated it until 1853. He fled California for New Mexico after being indicted for being involved in a knife fight.^[8] There he was appointed as a judge and became known as Judge Roy Bean, notable on the frontier.