I thought James Lick might be featured in the Google Doodle today (they went with Althea Gibson), since he was born this day in 1796. You may recognize the place name from around the Bay Area, on various public schools and roads, and most notably the Lick Observatory in the mountains east of San Jose. Lick truly was the richest man in town (and state) upon his death in 1876, and was a generous philanthropist, especially to scientific endeavors. Plus he had one impressive beard. You can read more on Lick and the observatory, here.