Samuel Brannan

For the American politician and newspaper editor, see Samuel S. Brannan.
Samuel S. Brannan
Samuel S. Brannan
Born(1819-03-02)March 2, 1819
Saco, Massachusetts (District of Maine), United States
DiedMay 5, 1889(1889-05-05) (aged 70)
Escondido, California, United States
Resting placeMount Hope Cemetery, San Diego, California, United States
Spouses
  • Harriet ("Hattie") Hatch
  • Anna Eliza Corwin
PartnerAshley
Children4

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, requiring him to liquidate much of his real estate to pay her half of their shared assets. He died poor and in relative obscurity.[2]: 132–150 

  1. ^ Hunt, Rockwell D. (1950). California's Stately Hall of Fame. Stockton, California: The College of the Pacific. pp. 237–242.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference Bailey1943 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).