Samuel Brannan

Samuel Brannan ( born March 2, 1819 in Saco, Maine, † May 14, 1889 in Escondido, California ) was an American settler, Mormon pioneer, ( fraudulent ) businessman, journalist and first millionaire in the California gold rush. Brannan was an important person in the history of California and San Francisco in the 19th century.

" He probably did more for [ San Francisco ] and for other places than what Effected by the combined efforts of scores of better men; and indeed, in many respects he what not a bad one, being as a rule straightforward as well as shrewd in his dealings, as famous for his acts of charity and open -handed liberality as for in enterprise, thus giving frequent proofs of personal bravery. "

"He has probably done more for San Francisco and other places, as many better men could achieve together; and he was not a bad man, basically straight, turning in its stores, known for his acts of charity and generosity and his business acumen, often his courage stellend to the test. "

Life

Journey to the West

Brannan was born in Saco, Maine. At the age of 14 he moved with his family to Ohio, where Brannan learned the printing art. Early on, he joined the fledgling Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ( Mormons). He moved to New York in 1844 and began the task of the church with the publication of the faith-based newspaper The Prophet ( Later, The New York Messenger).

After the murder of Joseph Smith in June 1844, the fledgling church decided under the leadership of Brigham Young, its headquarters from Nauvoo, Illinois to relocate to the west. Brannan then led 238 of Latter -day Saints on board the Brooklyn via Cape Horn to Alta California (which was at that time - in spite of the period of half a year - the fastest way to the west ). He arrived on July 31, 1846 Yerba Buena, now San Francisco. On board Brannan had an antiquated printing press and a flour mill.

Getting Started career in California

Samuel Brannan began with the pressure of the California Star, the first newspaper in San Francisco. Only Shortly before the first newspaper was published in Monterey California. The two printing companies merged in 1848 and the joint work henceforth was called The Daily Alta California. In the vicinity of Fort also he opened a trading business.

In June 1847 Brannan Brigham Young traveled to Green River opposite to him to convince instead of the Latter-day Saints at the Great Salt Lake to settle to move into the fertile California, he refused. The guided by Brannan to California group remained partly there, partly they followed the call of Brigham Young and later moved to Utah.

California Gold Rush

In the spring of 1848, paid employee of John Sutter goods in Brannans business with gold which they had found at Sutter 's Mill.

Brannan opened more stores to sell goods to the gold miners. In contrast to searching for gold itself, which was rarely successful, this was a very safe business, as trade goods were rare in San Francisco and correspondingly expensive. Brannan had bought about all the shovels, hoes and sink available and sold them now to a multiple of their price.

Brannan was elected to the first City Council of San Francisco. After a series of spectacular crimes in the area ( among others murder, which was also covered by executive members ), he helped with the organization of the San Francisco Committee of Vigilance. These hung a culprit ado, which, although temporarily for rest provided, but Brannan taught his church into disrepute, so that they excluded him because of vigilantism.

1851 Brannan visited Hawaii, where he acquired large estates. In 1853 he was elected to the Senate from California, an office which he never exercised. He dealt with the trade relations with China and Mexico, the railroad, banking and telecommunications in California. He built the first Cliff House, a famous restaurant in San Francisco.

After Brannan in 1859 visited the hot springs in the upper Napa Valley, he wanted to open an tourist center. He bought the land with the sources and founded Calistoga. He even built a railway line there. This, however, had to be foreclosed in 1869, because the whole story at all did not pay.

Later years

1872 could be his wife Anna Eliza Corwin divorced him because he had started several affairs with women and she felt in Sacramento simply not feeling well. After divorcing him luck was no longer hold, among other things, he had to pay her the half of his fortune in cash. Since Brannan had invested most of its assets in real estate, he had to sell them to pay the debts. Then he tried his hand as a brewer, but got problems with alcohol. He then retired to San Diego, got married again and tried again with land speculation, this time in Sonora, Mexico. 1888, at the age of sixty-nine years, the Mexican government paid him forty-nine thousand U.S. dollars in interest. With this money he could pay back his entire debt. He now also came loose from the alcohol. When he died, however, he was not even enough money to pay for his own funeral. He is buried at Mount Hope Cemetery in San Diego.

Aftermath

• In California, many places are named after Samuel Brannan, including the Brannan Street in San Francisco, Brannan Iceland, Brannan Brannan Creek and the Springs. There's even a Brannan Mountain.
• Calistoga and Yuba City name Brannan as the founder
• Together with John Sutter, Jr., William Tecumseh Sherman and Edward Ord Brannan put the limits of the present town of Sacramento fixed.