Portrait of Amasa Mason Lyman; courtesy of LDS Church Archives, (c)2002 Brigham Young University, all rights reserved

The First Gold Rush Millionaire

Sam Brannan is often called the first millionaire of the California Gold Rush. He initially came to San Francisco in 1846 as the leader of a Mormon colony, but he soon became caught up in prospecting and distanced himself from the church. On learning of Brannan's gold rush windfall Brigham Young sent a letter to the young millionaire, inquiring as to the whereabouts of his tithe. Brannan ignored Young's request and was soon excommunicated.

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