Adolph Sutro

Adolph Sutro (b. April 29, 1830) was the mayor of San Francisco, California in 1881-82. He was a supporter of President James G. Blaine and designed several comical, outlandish security measures to protect San Francisco (which was an extremely low priority target) during the Second Mexican War.

Sutro's mayorship was criticized by newspaper editor Samuel Clemens, who named his dog Sutro as an insult to the mayor. He would later repent for this, believing he'd actually insulted the dog.

Sutro was born in Prussia (now Germany) and emigrated to San Francisco, arriving on the steamship California on November 21, 1850. He set up stores in San Francisco and Stockton. In 1859, when the Comstock Lode was discovered, he went into mining, setting up the Sutro Metallurgical Works, in East Dayton, Nevada. He also built the Sutro tunnel, which allowed drainage and ventilation of the many mines in the Comstock Lode and to permit the miners to safely bring out the rich silver ore.

At one time, he is believed to have owned 1/12th of all land in San Francisco.