James Lick

He decided the political situation was too unstable and moved to Valparaíso Chile. However through the efforts of George Davidson president of the California Academy of Sciences Lick was persuaded to leave the greatest portion of his fortune to the establishment of a mountain top observatory with the largest most powerful telescope yet built by man.

At the time of his death he was the wealthiest man in California and left the majority of his estate to social and scientific causes.