William S. O'Brien facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
William Shoney O'Brien
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| Born | 1825 Abbeyleix, Ireland
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| Died | May 2, 1878 (aged 52–53) |
| Resting place | Holy Cross Cemetery, Colma (reinterred from San Francisco's Calvary Cemetery) |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Saloonkeeper, stockbroker, partner in Comstock Lode mines |
| Organization | Flood & O'Brien Consolidated Virginia Mining Company Bank of Nevada |
| Known for | Being one of the "Bonanza Kings" |
William Shoney O'Brien (born 1825 – died May 2, 1878) was an important American businessman who was born in Ireland. He became famous as one of the "Bonanza Kings". This was a group of four friends who made a lot of money from silver mines.
William O'Brien worked with three other Irishmen: James Graham Fair, James C. Flood, and John William Mackay. Together, they formed a company called the Consolidated Virginia Mining Company. They bought and sold shares in mines and ran silver mines in a place called the Comstock Lode.
In 1873, they found a huge amount of silver ore, which they called the "Big Bonanza." This discovery was over 1,200 feet deep and made them incredibly rich. Their partnership was officially known as "Flood and O'Brien," but most people called them the "Bonanza firm."
Contents
Early Life and Moving to America
William O'Brien was born in 1825 in a town called Abbeyleix in Ireland. When he was older, he moved to the United States. He settled in a city called San Francisco, California.
Building a Business Empire
In 1857, William O'Brien and his friend James C. Flood opened a place called the Auction Lunch Saloon in San Francisco. They worked hard and earned a lot of money. By 1868, they decided to sell their saloon.
They then started a new business as stockbrokers. This meant they helped people buy and sell shares in companies, especially mining companies. Here, they met James G. Fair and John W. Mackay. The four men decided to work together. They put their money together, which was about $225,000.
Their goal was to gain control of a silver mine called Hale & Norcross in Virginia City, Nevada. They successfully took control of the mine in 1869. After they took over, the mine produced three times more silver in 1869 and four times more in 1870.
The "Big Bonanza" Discovery
In 1873, the group made their biggest discovery. They found a massive amount of silver in the Consolidated Virginia mine. This huge find was named the "Big Bonanza." Because of this, they became known by many names, like the Silver Kings or the Lords of the Comstock. Some even called them the "second Big Four" because they were so powerful.
Together, they also started a bank called the Nevada Bank in San Francisco. It opened in 1875. This bank later became the Nevada National Bank and eventually joined with Wells Fargo Bank.
William O'Brien's Personality
People who knew William O'Brien said he was a very humble and friendly person. He knew that his great wealth came a lot from good luck. He was the oldest of the Silver Kings and was known as the most liked. He always remembered his old friends from before he became rich. He never married.
Later Life and Legacy
William O'Brien passed away on May 2, 1878, in San Rafael, California, after an illness. He left behind a very large fortune. He is considered one of the wealthiest Americans from his time.
He was first buried at Calvary Cemetery in San Francisco. Later, his remains were moved to Holy Cross Cemetery in Colma, California.
