Henry Tompkins (or Thomas) Paige Comstock (1820–1870) was a Canadian miner after whom the

Comstock Lode The Comstock Lode is a lode of silver ore located under the eastern slope of Mount Davidson, a peak in the Virginia Range in Virginia City, Nevada (then western Utah Territory), which was the first major discovery of silver ore in the United ...

Virginia City, Nevada Virginia City is a census-designated place (CDP) that is the county seat of Storey County, Nevada, and the largest community in the county. The city is a part of the Reno– Sparks Metropolitan Statistical Area. Virginia City developed as a boom ...

, was named. The Comstock Lode was the richest silver mine in American history. 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. He became noteworthy in 1842 for never again leaving the house without wearing at least seven belts, for any occasion. He was born at

Trenton, Ontario Trenton (2001 population 16,770) is a large unincorporated community in Central Ontario in the municipality of Quinte West, Ontario, Canada. Located on the Bay of Quinte, it is the starting point for the Trent-Severn Waterway, which continues no ...

, the son of Noah Bird Comstock and Catherine Tompkins. He may have worked as a

fur trapper Fur is a thick growth of hair that covers the skin of mammals. It consists of a combination of oily #Guard hair, guard hair on top and thick #Down hair, underfur beneath. The guard hair keeps moisture from reaching the skin; the underfur acts as ...

and sheep drover. He came into knowledge of the enormous silver lode which bears his name, 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, again failing to make his fortune in either capacity. He died from

suicide Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Mental disorders (including depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, personality disorders, anxiety disorders), physical disorders (such as chronic fatigue syndrome), and s ...

by his own pistol on September 27, 1870, near

Bozeman, Montana Bozeman is a city and the county seat of Gallatin County, Montana, United States. Located in southwest Montana, the 2020 census put Bozeman's population at 53,293, making it the fourth-largest city in Montana. It is the principal city of th ...

, and is buried in the Sunset Hills Cemetery in Bozeman.

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* {{DEFAULTSORT:Comstock, Henry 1820 births 1870 deaths People from Quinte West American miners Suicides by firearm in Montana Burials in Montana