Three thousand and fifteen acres of the Rancho Los Feliz Mexican land grant were gifted to the city of Los Angeles on December 16, 1896, by Griffith J. Griffith. This donation served as the foundation for the expansive public space eventually named Griffith Park, cementing the industrialist’s primary contribution to the city's municipal landscape.
Early Career and Wealth Accumulation
Born in 1850 in Bettws, Wales, to Margaret Jenkins Morgan and Griffith M. Griffith, he emigrated to the United States in 1865. Initially settling in Ashland, Pennsylvania, he moved to San Francisco in 1873. He worked as a journalist, eventually becoming a mining correspondent for the Alta California in 1878. This role provided him with insights into Pacific Coast and Nevada mining operations, leading to his involvement with mining syndicates and the subsequent acquisition of a significant fortune.
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Upon moving to Los Angeles in 1882, he purchased approximately 4,000 acres of the Rancho Los Feliz. In 1896, he and his wife, Mary Agnes Christina Mesmer, presented the majority of this land to the city for public use. He later donated an additional 1,000 acres along the Los Angeles River. In 1912, he proposed funding a Greek Theater and a Hall of Science within the park, though local opposition initially stalled the project. These facilities were later realized through his estate.
Criminal Conviction and Imprisonment
In 1903, he shot his wife at the Arcadia Hotel in Santa Monica, resulting in her permanent disfigurement. Prosecuted by former California governor Henry T. Gage and defended by Earl Rogers, he was convicted of assault with a deadly weapon. The court sentenced him to two years in San Quentin State Prison, where he served from April 1905 until December 1906. During his incarceration, his wife obtained a divorce and gained custody of their son, Vandell.
Legacy and Death
Following his release from prison, he lectured on the subject of prison reform. He died of liver disease on July 6, 1919, at the age of 69. His will bequeathed the bulk of his $1.5 million estate to Los Angeles, funding the construction of the Greek Theater, which opened in 1929, and the Griffith Observatory, which opened in 1935. He is buried at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery.
Fast facts
- Born: January 4, 1850, Bettws, Wales
- Died: July 6, 1919, Los Angeles
- Citizenship: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
- Primary Occupation: Industrialist and philanthropist
- Known Crime: Assault with a deadly weapon in 1903
- Burial Site: Hollywood Forever Cemetery
- Estate value at death: $1.5 million
Questions readers ask
Did Griffith J. Griffith serve in the military?
Although he used the title of Colonel, there is no official record of this rank; he likely only held the title of Major of rifle practice with the California National Guard.
What happened to his land donation after he was convicted of a crime?
The city of Los Angeles had already accepted the 3,015-acre donation in 1896, years before the 1903 shooting incident.
