caption death_date death_place birth_place birth_date spouse image article_title name
founder of the port of los angeles 08 march 1885 san francisco , california , usa wilmington , delaware , usa 19 august 1830 rebecca death -rrb- mary hollister -lrb- 1870 -- 1885 -rrb- -lrb- sanford his death -rrb- -lrb- 1856 -- 1868 -rrb- -lrb- her phineas banning.jpg phineas banning
 phineas banning
phineas banning

phineas banning -lrb- august 19 , 1830 -- march 8 , 1885 -rrb- was an american businessman , financier and entrepreneur .
known as `` the father of the port of los angeles , '' he was one of the founders of the town of wilmington , which was named for his birthplace .
his drive and ambition laid the foundations for what would become one of the busiest ports in the world .
besides operating a freighting business , banning operated a stage coach line between san pedro and wilmington , and later between banning , california , which was named in his honor , and yuma , arizona .
during the civil war , he ceded land to the union army to build a fort at wilmington , the drum barracks .
he was appointed a brigadier general of the first brigade of the militia , and used the title of general for the rest of his life .
