William Downie

William Downie (1819–1893) was a Scottish prospector and explorer involved in the gold rushes in California and British Columbia of the mid-19th century.

Life and death Downie was born in Glasgow, Scotland, and raised in Ayrshire.

Downieville, California was adopted as the town name in a local election, and the original name of "The Forks" was gradually dropped.

Then in 1874, Downie left for Panama where he sought gold and silver by grave robbing. He then visited Alaska as he states, "for the purpose of taking a cursory glance of this wonderful country."

Legacy Downieville, California is named for Major Downie. He is also the namesake of Downie Peak in the Selkirks. Also named for him is the former goldrush boomtown of Downie Creek, at the confluence of the stream of the same name with the Columbia River and adjacent to the vanished boomtown of La Porte, both at the heart of the Big Bend goldfields.