General David Douty Colton (July 17, 1831– October 9, 1878)[1] was an American pioneer, entrepreneur, and politician.

[1] He became engaged to Ellen M. White of Chicago, but made his way to Sacramento, California, and on to Oregon in 1850 before getting married.

[2][1] He was given the title "Brigadier-General of Militia" by California Governor John Bigler after successfully defending the county jail against an angry mob of miners.

[1] Colton built the first of the railroad magnate mansions on Nob Hill in San Francisco.

"Colton—the chief lawyer for the Central Pacific Railroad, owned by Crocker, Hopkins, Stanford, and Huntington—was known with derision as the 'Half' of the 'Big Four and a Half'.