William Ralston

William Ralston was an influential American financier and banker in the 19th century, best known for founding the Bank of California and helping develop San Francisco's financial infrastructure during the Gold Rush era. He played a key role in promoting economic growth in the region, supporting infrastructure projects like the Transcontinental Railroad. Ralston was also a prominent philanthropist and involved in various civic and cultural initiatives. His career was marked by significant success, but he died young at 43 under somewhat mysterious circumstances, leaving a lasting legacy in California's financial history.