William Kohl

William H. Kohl (1820–1893) was a sea captain, shipowner, shipbuilder, and a founding partner of the Alaska Commercial Company.

Biography

A Victoria shipbuilder, he was of Pennsylvania Dutch heritage and a California 49er.^[1] An engineer by training, he was also a trader, having made a fortune in Alaska in the fur seal business.^[2] His San Mateo, California estate was landscaped by John McLaren.^[3] It is now the city's Central Park and houses the San Mateo Arboretum. His mansion, situated near the corner of Fifth and Laurel, served as the first location for the College of San Mateo.^[4] He was the father of Charles Frederick Kohl who built Kohl Mansion in Burlingame, California, which has become Mercy High School.^[5][6]

References

1. Busch 1987, p. 105.
2. . San Mateo Daily Journal. April 28, 2010. Archived from the original on 1 February 2014. Retrieved 16 November 2013.
3. Hunt, Mary Ellen (September 10, 2008). "San Mateo park a cornucopia of pleasures". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 16 November 2013.
4. Larsen, Elaine (May 5, 2000). "Central Park has its roots in San Mateo history". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 16 November 2013.
5. Monroe, Jim (August 27, 1999). "Peninsula Heritage". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 16 November 2013.
6. Richter, Judy (1999-10-15). "Kohl Mansion has its roots in The Oaks". SFGATE. Retrieved 2020-10-26.

Bibliography

• Busch, Briton Cooper (1987). The War Against the Seals: A History of the North American Seal Fishery. McGill-Queen's Press. ISBN 978-0-7735-0610-7.