Henry Comstock

Who was Henry Comstock?

Henry Tompkins Paige Comstock was an American miner after whom the Comstock Lode was named.

Referred to by history books variously as a "sanctimonious gaffer", an "illiterate prospector", and a "quick-thinking loudmouth", he was known by his contemporaries as "Old Pancake", because he could not be bothered to bake bread. The bare facts of his life story are less humorous.

He was born at Trenton, Ontario. He may have worked as a fur trapper and sheep drover. He came into knowledge of the enormous silver lode which is named after him, but sold out his interest early and did not profit from it. Later he worked as a surveyor and miner, both independently and for a large mining firm, both failing to make his fortune. He committed suicide by pistol and is buried in the Bozeman cemetery.