The Village of Kaskaskia was established in April 1703 by the French in Illinois Country of New France and is recognized as the oldest seat of organized government west of the Allegheny Mountains. On April 18, 1818, the United States Congress authorized the people of the Illinois Territory to draft a constitution for admission into the Union and to establish Kaskaskia as their capital. The constitution was adopted on August 26, 1818, and statehood was granted on December 3, 1818. Early officials of the United States government and the government of Illinois came from Kaskaskia and Randolph County, including several members of the United States House of Representatives, the first Senator from Illinois, members of the Supreme Court, the first Governor of Illinois Shadrach Bond, and the first Lieutenant Governor Pierre Menard.