Two decades later, after amassing a fortune in his association with Spreckels, Irwin moved away from the plantation activities and relocated to San Francisco, where he continued his affiliations with financial institutions.
His only child Helene married the first time into the wealthy Crocker family of California, and through her second marriage to Paul I. Fagan, became an owner of the San Francisco Seals baseball team.
[5] He represented Hawaii at the 1900 Exposition Universelle (world's fair) in Paris, and was subsequently awarded the Chevalier of the Legion of Honor by the nation of France.
Spreckels had also considered George W. Macfarlane, aide-de-camp to King Kalākaua, as a potential associate, but ultimately opted for Irwin.
The Oceanic Steamship Company, and J. D. Spreckels and Brothers (sons of Claus), were wholly owned subsidiaries of the Wm.
Incorporated by Irwin, former California governor Frederick Low and Spreckels, on January 1, 1884, its purpose was to circulate the Kalākaua coinage in Hawaii, and to float loans to the monarchy and government officials.
[11] Spreckels was a practical royalist, who believed the monarchy's labor importation policies benefited the sugar industry.
After the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom, Spreckels found himself at odds over the issue with other planters, and supported Liliʻuokalani's return to the throne.
If Hawaii were annexed, the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act would likely apply to the islands and cut deeply into the plantation labor supply.
[15] By 1904, he was becoming less active with his Hawaiian sugar interests, and built a home in San Francisco with a scenic view of the Golden Gate Bridge.
On her wedding day, Irwin gave her a gift of $1,000,000 in investments, and the news media estimated the couple's combined wealth and potential inheritances at $20,000,000.