Sylvester Mowry

Born in Providence, Rhode Island, on January 17, 1833, Sylvester Mowry was a West Point graduate who served as a U.S. Army officer before turning to mining, politics, and writing. He became closely tied to the American Southwest after being stationed near the Gadsden Purchase, where he grew interested in both the land's mineral wealth and its political future.

Mowry is best remembered as an early and energetic advocate for creating the Arizona Territory. In the 1850s he traveled to Washington to press the case for separation from New Mexico, and later wrote The Geography and Resources of Arizona and Sonora (1863), a work that helped introduce many readers to the region's possibilities. His career also included mining ventures and land speculation, reflecting the mix of idealism and opportunism that shaped much of the frontier era.

His life was as turbulent as the territory he championed. During the Civil War he was arrested on accusations of treason, though he was later released. He died in London, England, on October 17, 1871, at just 38 years old. Though not a widely read author today, he remains a vivid figure in early Arizona history.