Bill Stewart made his mark in mining history by laying the groundwork for American Mining Law.​

In 1852, he was working at the Rough and Ready mining camp in the California Territory. He sold his mining outfit, went back into law, passed his bar exams, and was immediately appointed District Attorney of Nevada County.​

In 1859 came the famous cry: “There’s silver in Washoe!” and Bill headed to Nevada Territory, where hundreds were flocking to the Comstock Lode. There, he tirelessly defended the miners in their battles over claims on the lode.​

On October 31, 1864, Nevada entered the Union as the 36th State, and Bill entered right along with her as its first elected senator. Two years later, he authored the Act of 1866, which marked a new era in mining history. Not only did this law establish a single set of mining requirements, it also provided a means for the miners to obtain legal title to a claim, and all mineral lands of the public domain were declared open to exploration. It was the first effort by the legislature to establish a system of federal mining law. Up to that time, legislation with regard to minerals had been sporadic and unimportant. The passage of the Act of 1866 was the very beginning of American Mining Law and Stewart became “The Father of Modern Mining Laws.” His rugged figure is immortalized in the magnificent mural that graces the gallery walls of the House of Representatives in Washington.​

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