Samuel Brannan (March 2, 1819 – May 5, 1889) was an American settler, businessman, journalist who founded the California Star, the first newspaper in San Francisco, California. He is considered the first to publicize the California Gold Rush and was its first millionaire. In 1847, Brannan opened a store at Sutter's Fort, in present-day Sacramento, California. During that time he also built many large buildings in both Sacramento and San Francisco. He used the profits from his stores to buy large tracts of real estate.  Brannan's wife divorced him and he was forced to liquidate much of his real estate to pay her one-half of their assets. He died poor and in relative obscurity. Brannan Manor

housed Sam Brannon for some time in Old Sacramento.