Who is this person?

[Eva Elisabeth]

I thought the image of the man seemed familiar to me, so I admit that I used Google and found out who he was. Relax, I'm not going to ruin the trivia game and say who he was. But, as a historical accuracy nit-picker, I have to take issue with Eva calling him an "operator of brothels". One of the man's occupations was a hotel operator and the only legitimate historical source that I'm aware of that hints at the possibility of his involvement with prostitution is a review of one of his hotels in a local newspaper which said in part:

but I would not advise respectable women to go there to sleep as they are liable to hear that which would be repugnant to their feelings – and uttered, too, by the depraved of their own sex

This man's hotel had more of a single-man clientele and he may have had arrangements with local prostitutes for his guests, but I don't think there's enough evidence to be sure based on the above quote.

I just thought I should clarify this in case "operator of brothels" sent somebody down a wrong alley of thinking.

Thanks, Steve - I purposely started out with the less familiar part of what made his fortune, also because I found it more interesting to learn. I will provide his story, and you will see. The restaurant/hotel business is so famous at least over here - I held back as I didn't want to make it too easy from the outset. I guess the brothel part is not welcome to be known that much. But it's pretty logical to make a fortune that way in that environment, no? And it's one of the oldest businesses of mankind, there are even brothels in the ruins of Pompeii. (And it's a good question, isn't it?)

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So, hint #5: He made his fortune from hotels and "catering" in connection with gold.

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... which actually paved the way for someone else.

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Hint #6: I could also have posted the question here:
https://rogerjnorton.com/LincolnDiscussi...e-124.html