Who discovered gold in California while building a sawmill for John Sutter?

James Marshall is the person credited with discovering gold in California while building a sawmill for John Sutter in 1848. This significant event took place at Sutter's Mill in Coloma, which subsequently triggered the California Gold Rush. Marshall found gold while inspecting the tailrace of the mill and, in doing so, unwittingly changed the course of California's history as news of the discovery spread, leading to a massive influx of people seeking fortune.

Marshall's discovery not only had a profound economic impact but also contributed to the rapid population growth in California, as tens of thousands flocked to the region. This sparked significant developments in transportation, settlement, and the eventual statehood of California. Other figures associated with the Gold Rush, like Sam Brannan, who famously capitalized on the gold discovery by establishing a store and publicizing the gold find, had important roles, but it was Marshall's discovery that set the entire movement in motion.