Samuel S. Brannan | |
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![]() Samuel S. Brannan | |
Born | Saco, Massachusetts (District of Maine), United States | March 2, 1819
Died | May 5, 1889 Escondido, California, United States | (aged 70)
Resting place | Mount Hope Cemetery, San Diego, California, United States |
Spouses |
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Partner | Ashley |
Children | 4 |
Samuel S. Brannan (March 2, 1819 – May 5, 1889) was an American settler, businessman, journalist, and prominent Mormon who founded the California Star, the first newspaper in San Francisco, California. He is also considered the first to publicize the California Gold Rush and was California's first millionaire.[1]: 237 He used the profits from his stores to buy large tracts of real estate. He helped form the first vigilance committee in San Francisco and was disfellowshiped from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) because of his actions within the vigilance committee. Brannan's wife divorced him and he was forced to liquidate much of his real estate to pay her one-half of their assets. He died poor and in relative obscurity.[2]: 132–150