Robert Semple and Thomas Larkin, along with Mariano Vallejo, were Benicia’s founding fathers. Robert Semple arrived in California in 1845 from Kentucky. He was a giant of a man around 6’7”. He was a dentist, printer, soldier, publisher and politician. He started California’s first newspaper, took part in the Bear Flag Revolt to separate California from Mexico and presided over California’s first Constitutional Convention in Monterey. During the Bear Flag revolt, Semple and Vallejo agreed to found a city. Semple brought in Thomas Larkin, the US’s only consul to Mexican California. Larkin arrived in California in 1832, from the east coast. He had purchased land in San Francisco and Monterey and had several successful businesses. He was considered to be one of the richest Americans at the time. Semple had the dream, Vallejo deeded the land and Larkin provided the cash, thus giving birth to the city of Benicia on May 19, 1847. This mural depicts Semple on the left and Larkin on the right. Behind them the sun is dawning over Mount Diable separated by the waters of the Carquinez Strait and the hills and bounty of the site of Benicia.