Portsmouth Square

Founded Yerba Buena as a trading post in 1835

Captain of the USS Portsmouth in 1846

1st officer of the USS Portsmouth and 1st Alcade of the Village of San Francisco

Built by Leidesdorff and later named the Portsmouth Hotel in 1846, it sat on the corner of Clay & Kearny.  Was the 1st acting city hall.

Early Members of the Society of California Pioneers and city fathers of San Francisco

Author of "Treasure Island" and "Doctor Jekyll & Mr. Hyde".

Taken in 1850 with James Marshall.

Credited with the discovery of gold in 1848.

James Marshall's assistant at Sutter's Mill.

Wife of Peter Wimmer and mother of Martin Wimmer. She was instrumental in initiating both the California and Colorado Gold Rushes.

Leader of a group of 238 Mormons who arrived in Yerba Buena cove aboard the "Brooklyn" in 1846.

Located at what was once the NW corner of Portsmouth Square - now the SE corner of Grant and Washington.

Arrived in San Francisco during the gold rush, became chairman of all three Committees of Vigilance (1851, 1856, 1877).

On June 10th, 1851, an ex-convict and member of the Sydney Ducks, John Jenkins was caught stealing a safe. Within hours the 1st Committee of Vigilance tried and executed Jenkins by hanging him from the Customs House.

The Bordello at Dupont (Grant st.) and Washington, owned and operated by Charles Cora's common law wife Belle Ryan. The two were married minutes before Charles Cora's hanging by the Committee of Vigilance.

Killed U.S. Marshal, William Richardson in a dispute about his common law wife Belle Ryan.

Editor of the Evening Bulletin. Exposed Corruption of the governing "Know Nothing" party. Was shot outside the Montgomery Block by James P. Casey and later died.

Ex-con from New York became a political figure in San Francisco After the gold rush. Called out in James King of William's Evening Bulletin newspaper. Murdered King in June of 1856.

Located at the corner of Sacramento and Montgomery streets. - 1856

The 1856 Committee stormed the city jail and took as prisoners Charles Cora and James Casey.

California Supreme Court Judge David S. Terry stabbed Sterling Hopkins and fled to the "Law & Order" armory across from Portsmouth Square. Terry would later kill State Senator David C. Broderick in the last duel in California.

May 26th, 1856

2 Sacramento Street

Member of the 3rd Committee of Vigilance. Went on to form the California Workingman's Party which would support the Chinese exclusion Act.