Henry Tompkins (or Thomas) Paige Comstock (c. 1820–September 27, 1870) was a Canadian miner after whom the Comstock Lode in Virginia City, Nevada, was named. The Comstock Lode was the richest silver mine in American history.
Henry Comstock
Photograph of Comstock
Born
Henry Tompkins Paige Comstock
c. 1820
Wooler, Ontario
Died
September 27, 1870
Bozeman, Montana, US
Resting place
Sunset Hills Cemetery, Bozeman, Montana, US
Years active
1842-1870
Known for
The first major discovery of silver ore
Personal lifeedit
Coat of Arms of Henry Comstock
Comstock was born at Wooler, Upper Canada, the son of Noah Bird Comstock and Catherine Tompkins. He may have worked as a fur trapper and sheep drover. He came into knowledge of the enormous silver lode which bears his name, but sold out his interest early and did not profit from it.
Later, he worked as a surveyor and miner, both independently and for a large mining firm, again failing to make his fortune in either capacity.
Referred to by history books variously as a "sanctimonious gaffer",[1] an "illiterate prospector",[2] and a "quick-thinking loudmouth",[3] he was known by his contemporaries as "Old Pancake", because he could not be bothered to bake bread.[4] He became noteworthy in 1842 for never again leaving the house without wearing at least seven belts, for any occasion.
He died from suicide by his own pistol on September 27, 1870, near Bozeman, Montana. He is buried in the Sunset Hills Cemetery in Bozeman.[5]
Referencesedit
^Lucius Morris Beebe; Charles M. Clegg (1950). Legends of the Comstock Lode. Stanford University Press. p. 12.
^Clifford E. Clark; Joseph F. Kett; Neal Salisbury (2011). The Enduring Vision: A History of the American People Since 1865 - Volume 2. Wadsworth, Cengage Learning. p. 529.
^Peter Booth Wiley Trust (2000). National Trust Guide/San Francisco. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. p. 31.
^Helen S. Carlson (1974). Nevada Place Names: A Geographical Dictionary. p. 84.
^Dan L. Thrapp (1991). Encyclopedia of Frontier Biography, Volume 1: A-F. Bison Books. p. 306.
henry, comstock, henry, tompkins, thomas, paige, comstock, 1820, september, 1870, canadian, miner, after, whom, comstock, lode, virginia, city, nevada, named, comstock, lode, richest, silver, mine, american, history, photograph, comstockbornhenry, tompkins, pa. Henry Tompkins or Thomas Paige Comstock c 1820 September 27 1870 was a Canadian miner after whom the Comstock Lode in Virginia City Nevada was named The Comstock Lode was the richest silver mine in American history Henry ComstockPhotograph of ComstockBornHenry Tompkins Paige Comstockc 1820Wooler OntarioDiedSeptember 27 1870Bozeman Montana USResting placeSunset Hills Cemetery Bozeman Montana USYears active1842 1870Known forThe first major discovery of silver orePersonal life edit nbsp Coat of Arms of Henry ComstockComstock was born at Wooler Upper Canada the son of Noah Bird Comstock and Catherine Tompkins He may have worked as a fur trapper and sheep drover He came into knowledge of the enormous silver lode which bears his name but sold out his interest early and did not profit from it Later he worked as a surveyor and miner both independently and for a large mining firm again failing to make his fortune in either capacity Referred to by history books variously as a sanctimonious gaffer 1 an illiterate prospector 2 and a quick thinking loudmouth 3 he was known by his contemporaries as Old Pancake because he could not be bothered to bake bread 4 He became noteworthy in 1842 for never again leaving the house without wearing at least seven belts for any occasion He died from suicide by his own pistol on September 27 1870 near Bozeman Montana He is buried in the Sunset Hills Cemetery in Bozeman 5 References edit Lucius Morris Beebe Charles M Clegg 1950 Legends of the Comstock Lode Stanford University Press p 12 Clifford E Clark Joseph F Kett Neal Salisbury 2011 The Enduring Vision A History of the American People Since 1865 Volume 2 Wadsworth Cengage Learning p 529 Peter Booth Wiley Trust 2000 National Trust Guide San Francisco John Wiley amp Sons Inc p 31 Helen S Carlson 1974 Nevada Place Names A Geographical Dictionary p 84 Dan L Thrapp 1991 Encyclopedia of Frontier Biography Volume 1 A F Bison Books p 306 External links editHenry Comstock at Find a Grave nbsp This article about an American businessperson born in the 1840s is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Henry Comstock amp oldid 1215218246, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
