Nathan Randolph Vail (1825 – March 5, 1888)[1] was a mine operator in Arizona Territory, and a landowner in 19th century Los Angeles, California.

[2] He was married to Anna Walker Vail of Nova Scotia, and they had four children, Hugh W., John R., Lizzie H. (Mrs. Walter Irving Allen) and Frederick H.[3][4] His drowning death on March 5, 1888, resulted from an inspection trip he was making of his property at Redondo Beach, California, where he was a director of the Redondo Beach (development) Company: A coroner's jury heard testimony on March 6 that he had been warned against making the short passage aboard a flat-bottomed skiff in a rough surf from the shore to a vessel lying at anchor off the coast, but he replied that he was "an old sea captain" and insisted upon the crossing.

A huge wave pitched him and three sailors into the sea: He was wearing a heavy coat and drowned; the lightly clad crew survived.

[8] That same year Vail, along with Judge Charles Silent and D. McFarland, bought a 1,400-acre plot of Rancho San Pedro, an area known as the Dominguez Property and Salt Works, including a 1-1/2-mile frontage along the beach, back a half mile to an elevation of 600 feet.

"The surface is thus beautifully diversified and rolling, thus affording a view of surpassing loveliness and grandeur for miles in all directions, including Los Angeles, Ballona and the whole valley."