Remembering the “Big Bonanza”

John William Mackay was an American industrialist who was known to be one of the Bonanza Kings which capitalized the wealth produced by the silver mines in Comstock Lode. Mackay was born in Dublin, Ireland on November 28, 1831. His parents moved to New York City when he was a boy.

Mackay went to Sierra County, California in 1851to work in placer gold mines. In 1859, Mackay decided to transfer to Virginia City, Nevada. He lost all his savings from his California job, so Mackay partnered with James Graham Fair, William O’Brien and James Flood. These four businessmen were later known as Bonanza Kings. They operated the Comstock Lode silver mines. They discovered a huge cache of silver ore in 1873, which was known as “big bonanza.” The Bonanza Kings founded the Bank of Nevada later on.

In order to expand his fortunes, Mackay diversified in other businesses. He was the co-founder of Commercial Cable Company. He also founded the Postal telegraph Company in 1886. Through the Pacific, Mackay established the Commercial Pacific Cable Company.

Mackay died on July 20, 1902 because of heart failure.