Samuel Wass
Biography
Born in Kalozsvar, Transylvania. He inherited the title of Count. Studied law and became an apprentice-at-law in 1833. Appointed judge in 1939 and chief justice in 1841. Served in the Hungarian parliment until February 1849.
Wass supported General Kossuth during the Hungarian revolution. He arrived in New York in November 1849 as a refugee. In New York he met Gustav Molitor and Korel Fornet. They traveled to California and formed Wass, Molitor and Co. They produced gold coins dated 1852 and 1855 in denominations of $5, $10, $20 and $50.
Wass returned to Hungary in 1858. Elected to Hungarian Academy of Sciences in 1861. Also elected to the Hungarian diet in 1861 and served until 1875. He died in Budapest March 20, 1879.
bio: NN 8/30/94
Source credit: Pete Smith, American Numismatic Biographies
Bio Snapshot
Date of Birth: 1814Place of Birth: Kalozsvar, Transylvania
Date of Death: 1879 - Mar - 20