John Sutter
(1803-1880)
WHO HE WAS:
Johann August Sutter, better known as John Sutter, was a German-born Swiss pioneer of California known for establishing Sutter's Fort in the area that would become Sacramento, California's state capital. He is often associated with the California Gold Rush, despite his personal financial downfall due to the discovery.
WHAT HE SAID:
"I have broken the wilderness, and planted the vine and the orchards in many places; where now the farmer in peace and contentment, can sit under his own vine and fig tree, and none shall make him afraid."
WHY HE MATTERED:
Sutter's role in the early development of California was pivotal. The discovery of gold at his mill in 1848 sparked the California Gold Rush, an event that led to the rapid influx of immigrants to the region, the quick ascension of California to statehood, and a significant reshaping of the nation's demographics and economy.