James G. Fair
James Graham Fair (December 3, 1831 – December 28, 1894) was an Irish immigrant to the United States who became a highly successful mining engineer and businessman. His investments in silver mines in Nevada made him a millionaire, and he was one of the famous "silver kings" who became wealthy on the Comstock Lode. Fair later became a real estate investor and railroad builder in California. In 1881, he was elected a United States Senator from Nevada. Nearly all other major so-called robber barons were Protestants (Episcopal or Presbyterian) while Fair himself died a Roman Catholic though born into poverty to Anglican parents.
James G. Fair | |
|---|---|
| United States Senator from Nevada | |
| In office March 4, 1881 – March 3, 1887 | |
| Preceded by | William Sharon |
| Succeeded by | William M. Stewart |
| Personal details | |
| Born | December 3, 1831 Clogher, Ireland |
| Died | December 28, 1894 (aged 63) San Francisco, California, U.S. |
| Resting place | Holy Cross Cemetery, Colma, California |
| Nationality | American |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Theresa Rooney (divorced) |
| Children | Theresa Fair Oelrichs James Fair Jr. Charles Lewis Fair Virginia Fair Vanderbilt |
| Residence(s) | Geneva, Illinois, Virginia City, Nevada, San Francisco, California |
| Occupation | Prospector, mine supervisor, real estate developer, railroad builder, Senator |
| Known for | Being one of the "Bonanza Kings" |
| Net worth | USD $45 million at the time of his death (approximately 1/280 of US GNP) |
| Cause of death | Diabetes mellitus, Bright's disease |
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