Major William Downie was born in Glasgow, Scotland and raised in Ayrshire.  In gold rush-era California, Major Downie led an expedition up the North Fork of the Yuba River after having arrived in San Francisco on 27 June 1849. On 5 Oct. he led a group of African American sailors and one Irish lad eventually reaching the forks of the North Yuba. Downie stated, "The spot where the town stands was then the handsomest I have ever seen in the mountains." They found gold all along the river, not even needing a shovel to do so. Downieville, California was adopted as the town name in a local election, and the original name of "The Forks" was gradually dropped.

Major Downie explored British Columbia at the request of Governor James Douglas. In 1858 he investigated the route from Bute Inlet to the Cariboo via the Homathko River, an attempted development of which led to the Chilcotin War a few years later. At the onset of the Big Bend Gold Rush of 1865, Downie travelled up the Columbia River before steamboat service on that route began.

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."

William Downie died on 27 Dec. 1893 on board the steamer City of Puebla just before disembarking in San Francisco from Victoria, British Columbia.

Major William Downie was born in Glasgow, Scotland and raised in Ayrshire.  In gold rush-era California, Major Downie led an expedition up the North Fork of the Yuba River after having arrived in San Francisco on 27 June 1849. On 5 Oct. he led a group of African American sailors and one Irish lad eventually reaching the forks of the North Yuba. Downie stated, "The spot where the town stands was then the handsomest I have ever seen in the mountains." Major Downie claimed to have been the first man in that district He was one of the owners of the Jersey claim , at the junction of the South and North forks of the North Yuba.  The Jersey claim was very rich.  They used to divide up a pan of gold every night they worked the claim.  Lots of time they were drunk and didn't pay dividends to anybody but the saloon keeper.  But on sober days they would divide their pan of gold among 10 partners mesuring it out with a tin cup.  They found gold all along the river, not even needing a shovel to do so. Downieville, California was adopted as the town name in a local election, and the original name of "The Forks" was gradually dropped.  Major Downey wanted the new town and offered a pan of gold to sow the streets if the boys would call the place Downieville, so they did.

Major Downie explored British Columbia at the request of Governor James Douglas. In 1858 he investigated the route from Bute Inlet to the Cariboo via the Homathko River, an attempted development of which led to the Chilcotin War a few years later. At the onset of the Big Bend Gold Rush of 1865, Downie travelled up the Columbia River before steamboat service on that route began.

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."

William Downie died on 27 Dec. 1893 on board the steamer City of Puebla just before disembarking in San Francisco from Victoria, British Columbia.