Henry Ernest Boyes
Born(1844-07-13)July 13, 1844[1]
Kingston upon Hull, England, United Kingdom
DiedDecember 11, 1919(1919-12-11) (aged 75)
San Francisco, California, United States
Resting placeMountain Cemetery, Sonoma, California
CitizenshipUnited States of America
Known forFounding of Boyes Hot Springs, California
Spouse
Antoinette Charlotte Edwards
​
​
(m. 1883)​

Henry Ernest Boyes (1844–1919) was an American entrepreneur and Navy captain. Boyes founded Boyes Hot Springs in California after discovering hot springs on his property.

Early life

Henry Boyes was born into a wealthy family in 1844 in Kingston upon Hull in England.[2] His father was Faulkner Boyes and mother, Margaret Mathilda Saner.[1] of He had two brothers. Both died as children. He attended Queen Mary's Grammar School in Ripon.[2]

Mid-life and career

Boyes served in the British Navy from 1858 to 1872. During that time, he served in the Indian Navy for four years in Mumbai. After leaving the Navy, he managed an indigo plantation. He returned to Europe and visited Switzerland, where he met Antoinette Charlotte Edwards.[2] The two married in 1883 in England.[1] Boyes sold his family estate for $250,000 and the couple moved to San Francisco, California.[2]

Founding of Boyes Hot Springs

Grave of Henry Boyes in Sonoma, California

In 1883 the Boyes' moved to Sonoma Valley, where they bought 75 acres of land after hearing about the area from Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo.[3] The couple lived on a house that was built in 1849 by T.M. Leavenworth. Eventually, another house was built on a 15-acre part of the property, which the couple named "El Mirador."[2]

Vallejo had told Boyes about natural hot springs[3] in the area and in 1888, Boyes dug two 200 feet deep wells on the property. They pumped the hot water into pools and promoted the therapeutic benefits of the water to the public. They started with one pool, eventually expanding to multiple pools as the site grew in popularity with tourists from San Francisco. The property eventually served as a resort with overnight accommodations. Boyes incorporated the resort as the Boyes' Hot Mineral Springs Co. in 1902.[4] In 1923, the resort was destroyed by a fire.[5] Today, the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa is located on the site of the former Boyes resort.[2]

Later life and legacy

Boyes is buried in Mountain Cemetery in Sonoma. His grave is next to the tomb of Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo.[2]

References

  1. 1 2 3 William E van Vugt (September 29, 2017). British Immigration to the United States, 1776–1914. Taylor & Francis. pp. 162–166. ISBN 978-1-351-22233-4.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 McKale, George (January 26, 2012). "Mr. and Mrs. Boyes". Turning Stones. Sonoma Valley Sun. Retrieved February 6, 2017.
  3. 1 2 Federal Writers Project of the Works Progress Administration (April 5, 2011). San Francisco in the 1930s: The WPA Guide to the City by the Bay. University of California Press. pp. 452–. ISBN 978-0-520-94887-7.
  4. ↑ Tom Gregory (1911). History of Sonoma County, California: With Biographical Sketches of the Leading Men and Women of the County, who Have Been Identified with Its Growth and Development from the Early Days to the Present Time. Historic record Company.
  5. ↑ Michael Acker (March 27, 2017). The Springs: Resort Towns of Sonoma Valley. Arcadia Publishing Incorporated. pp. 69–. ISBN 978-1-4396-5994-6.
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