It's true, he's one of the best kept secrets in modern American history, but the fact of the matter is his life story is not all one of glory. He was born out of wedlock, sent off without his family and a great debate over his sexual orientation since he never married. This book is based on over twenty years of historical research and is loaded with facts written during and after his life.  

This is the only book published about William Alexander Leidesdorff and brings together documents found in the National Archives, California State Archives, multiple University Archives, and institutions such as the Mission Delores in San Francisco.

He died at the young age of 38 years in 1848 with a wife or children, and because gold was found on his property making his estate worth over $1,500,00, people from around the world came out of nowhere claiming to be relatives of William's attempting to gain a share of his wealth. Lawsuits ensued for the next half-century in the United States, Danish West Indies and Europe until the last appeal was heard!

Absolutely -- and he has to some degree. He was given the highest honors during burial at Mission Delores and all flags were flown at half-staff and business were closed for the day. There is a street named for him in the financial district of San Francisco, Leidesdorff Way, a highway has been named after him in California along the property that he once owned and other streets, squares and districts have been named for him throughout northern California.

While he's deserving of a postage stamp, he hasn't made it yet -- though maybe one day. He took out Mexican citizenship in 1844 and was granted 35,000 acres of land in the Sacramento Valley. He served as Vice Consul of Mexico from 1845 to 1846. Being fluent in several languages, in 1846 he translated the proclamation that California was part of the United States. He served as a member of the city’s first town council, was instrumental in creating San Francisco’s first school, was the city’s first treasurer, opened the city’s first hotel, and owned and mastered the first steamboat on San Francisco Bay.

The book spans his life and has over 35 documents and images giving a clear picture of what life was like for him and those around him at the time.

After reading the book, you will have an appreciation for the challenges that he faced, what he did to overcome obstacles throughout his life and the impact his deeds had on the many generations that have followed him. And while it has been over 160 years since he died, his legacy lives on today - as the City of San Francisco, the California School System, the State of California Flag, horse racing and much more.