Stephen Clark Foster (December 17, 1820 – January 27, 1898) was a politician, the first American mayor of Los Angeles under United States military rule.

In 1845 at age 25, he headed for California, like many other young single men, via El Paso and Santa Fe.

Mason appointed José del Carmen Lugo, a prominent and mature Californio, as mayor following Foster.

During his early years in Los Angeles, Foster made a marriage important to his standing in the community.

Foster achieved his first political office after statehood in 1850, when he was elected to the Los Angeles Common Council for a one-year term.

[4] The surrounding territory was overrun by bandits driven from the gold mines of northern California southward into the cattle ranching counties.

[4] Mayor Foster, like most of the city's prominent citizens, was a member of the local vigilance committee and of the Los Angeles Rangers, the mounted body of volunteer police.

After the lynching, the people held a special election and returned Foster to office for the remainder of his regular term.