George Hearst

George Hearst
George Hearst
Born	Template:Birth date; Near Sullivan, Missouri, U.S.
Died	February 28, 1891 (aged 70); Washington, D.C., U.S.
Occupation(s)	Entrepreneur, mining magnate, politician
Years active	1846–1891
Known for	Founder of Hearst mining empire; U.S. Senator from California
Notable work	Development of Homestake Mine; ownership of San Francisco Examiner

George Hearst (September 3, 1820 – February 28, 1891) was a prominent American entrepreneur, political figure, and the founding patriarch of the Hearst business empire. Originating from a farm in Missouri, he established multiple mining enterprises, most notably developing the Homestake Mine during the late 1870s in the Black Hills region of South Dakota. In 1879, he successfully listed the mine on the New York Stock Exchange, with its gold extraction continuing until 2001.

After relocating to San Francisco in the early 1860s, Hearst ventured into politics, serving a term in the California State Assembly as a representative of the city while continuing to oversee his mining interests. In 1886, he was appointed to the United States Senate to fill a vacancy and later that year was elected as a Democrat, holding office until his passing in 1891. His sole offspring, William Randolph Hearst—born when George was 42—rose to prominence as a newspaper magnate and publisher, eventually inspiring Orson Welles’ film Citizen Kane.

Early life

Born near what is now Sullivan, Missouri, George Hearst was the son of William G. Hearst and Elizabeth Collins, both of Scots-Irish descent. One of three siblings, he grew up in a log cabin on his family’s Franklin County farm. His father managed three farms under mortgage and sold goods through a local general store.

Due to limited schooling opportunities in Missouri at that time, Hearst expanded his knowledge by studying nearby mining operations and reading mineralogy texts borrowed from the family physician. This early exposure sparked his lifelong interest in mining ventures.

Mining career

Following his father’s death in 1846, Hearst, then 26 years old, took responsibility for supporting his family while simultaneously engaging in mining activities and operating a general store. In 1850, he joined a group heading to California after news of the California Gold Rush. Their initial attempt at placer mining near Sutter's Mill gave way to a move to Grass Valley, California in 1851 after reports surfaced of a quartz vein there. Hearst redirected his efforts toward prospecting and acquiring quartz mines.

By 1859, Hearst had diversified into mining operations, livestock raising, farming, and managing a general store in Nevada County. That summer brought news of promising silver assays from the "blue stuff" near what would become the Comstock Lode in Utah Territory. He secured a one-sixth stake in the Ophir Mine close to Virginia City. During that winter season, Hearst’s team extracted 38 tons of high-quality silver ore that generated $91,000 in profits (equivalent to roughly $3.3 million today), attracting considerable investor attention.

His collaboration with Marcus Daly began amid their work on the Comstock Lode. In 1872, Daly introduced Hearst to the Ontario silver mine located in Park City, Utah, which yielded $17 million over a decade and helped Hearst weather the financial crisis known as the Panic of 1873. Later on, Hearst and his associates provided funding for Daly’s ventures at the Anaconda mine in Butte, Montana, where they also acquired ownership interests.

Investments

Hearst was a co-founder of Hearst, Haggin, Tevis and Co., participating in significant mining projects such as Nevada’s Comstock Lode and Ophir mine; Utah’s Ontario silver mine; New Mexico’s Pacific mine at Pinos Altos; South Dakota’s Homestake gold mine; and Montana’s Anaconda Copper Mine. Among these holdings, the Homestake Mine stood out as one of his largest and most enduring investments, remaining profitable through lean ore periods until its closure in 2001. Additionally, he invested in Peru’s Cerro de Pasco Mine. His enterprise became recognized as the largest privately owned mining company across the United States, earning him acclaim as an authority on Pacific coast mining properties and contributing to advancements in quartz extraction and other mining techniques.

Hearst also came into possession of the San Francisco Examiner newspaper as settlement for a gambling debt and utilized it to advance Democratic Party causes. His son, William Randolph Hearst, later expanded this publication into what became the vast Hearst media conglomerate.

Personal and political life

In 1860, Hearst went back to Missouri to attend to his mother and resolve legal affairs. During this period, he reestablished his relationship with Phoebe Apperson, whom he married in 1862. The couple then relocated to San Francisco, where their son, William Randolph Hearst, was born in 1863.

Hearst was elected to the California State Assembly in 1864, serving a single term during which he provided valuable input on mining matters as part of a special Committee on Mines and Mining Interests. In 1865, he purchased Rancho Piedra Blanca near San Simeon, California, a property that his son later expanded into the renowned Hearst Castle. The family also maintained a residence in San Francisco at the intersection of Chestnut and Leavenworth streets.

He owned a prosperous thoroughbred horse racing stable; among his horses, Tournament notably won the Jerome Handicap. Following Hearst’s passing, his stable was sold at auction in 1891.

In 1882, Hearst sought the Democratic nomination for Governor of California but was unsuccessful. After losing support from railroad interests during the primary, he joined forces with Christopher Augustine Buckley and Stephen M. White to establish the Anti-Monopoly Coalition.

Senatorial career

Hearst campaigned for the U.S. Senate seat in the 1885 election but was defeated by former Governor Leland Stanford. The following year, he was appointed to fill the Senate vacancy caused by the death of John F. Miller, serving from March 23 until August 4, when Abram Williams was elected as his successor. In 1887, Hearst secured a full Senate term through election by the state legislature as a Democrat and served from March 4, 1887, until his death in 1891. During his tenure, he concentrated on limiting the influence of the Central Pacific Railroad over American commerce.

Death and legacy

Hearst passed away at age 70 in Washington, D.C. on February 28, 1891. His funeral prompted adjournments by both the California Legislature and courts. His widow, Phoebe Apperson Hearst, inherited his estate and used her resources to support libraries in towns where he had major mining operations, including Lead, South Dakota, and Anaconda, Montana. She also promoted numerous educational programs throughout California and became the first woman appointed to the California Board of Regents. George Hearst is interred at Cypress Lawn Cemetery in Colma, California, alongside his wife and son.

The Hearst Memorial Mining Building located on the Berkeley campus stands as a tribute to George Hearst.

In 1996, he received posthumous recognition through induction into the Hall of Great Westerners at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum.

In popular culture

In Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s short story "The Problem of Thor Bridge", Sherlock Holmes’s client Neil Gibson is inspired by Hearst and described as "The Gold King," a senator from a western state; notably, this story originally appeared in Hearst's International Magazine, which was owned by Hearst’s son.
Moroni Olsen portrayed Hearst in the 1938 film Gold Is Where You Find It.
In the 1941 movie Citizen Kane, Harry Shannon played Jim Kane, a character loosely based on George Hearst.
Barry Kelley took on the role of Hearst in a 1964 episode of Death Valley Days, with James Hampton portraying William Randolph Hearst.
Gerald McRaney depicted a fictionalized and antagonistic version of Hearst in HBO’s Deadwood and its 2019 film continuation. This portrayal exercises creative liberties regarding historical events involving the Homestake Mine.

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