Marshall, James Wilson (1810-1885), discovered gold in California on Jan. 24, 1848. He found pieces of gold while building a sawmill for John Sutter 48 miles (77 kilometers) north of Sutter’s Fort. News of the discovery started the gold rush of 1849. In spite of his discovery, Marshall died a poor and bitter man. The first people who came to the gold site paid a small fee, but later arrivals refused to pay. The claims of Marshall and Sutter were swept aside. Marshall was born on Oct. 8, 1810, in Hunterdon County, New Jersey. He died on Aug. 10, 1885.
See also California gold rush.
