John charles fremont, explorer, the pathfinder the ely times. Jessie, his wife, was a good writer and helped to make the books interesting. How jessie and john fremont mapped the west, invented celebrity and helped cause the civil war, touches on parallels to u. Fremont the exploring expedition to the rocky mountains.
John fremont, politician, explorer and abolitionist. John charles fremont was born in savannah, georgia, in 18. Aug 02, 2019 john charles fremont january 21, 18 july, 1890 was an american military officer, explorer and the first candidate of the antislavery republican party for president of the united states. Some have fine books thrust upon them, and i am one of those fortunates. Explorer for a restless nation by ferol egan goodreads.
His race for the presidency in 1856 brought prestige to the fledgling republican party, yet despite his popularity, his uncompromising determination to abolish slavery cost him the election. Throughout the nineteenth century, the most celebrated explorer in america was. Journalist, author, and cohost of nprs renowned morning edition program, steve inskeep, tells the riveting story of the husband and wife team who were instrumental in the westward expansion of the united states, and thus. His accomplishment was making the west more famous and making it seem more alluring. Fremont s most popular book is the exploring expedition to the rocky mountains, oregon. Id come across numerous times in other biographies, other history books. He did, however, receive a thorough background in mathematics and the classics. American explorer, army officer, and the first candidate for the presidency for the repubican party. Analysis of fremonts role as an explorer is effectively summarized in william h. The littleknown story of the republican partys 1st. Entire books have been written about john charles fremont, the american soldier, explorer, surveyor and mapmaker, politician, and namesake of downtown las vegas fremont street, along with many other geographical place names, many in california where he settled in his adult years he was born in savannah, georgia.
D uring seven scientific expeditions, covering over 30,000 miles of western exploration and mapping surveys, fremont was nicknamed the pathfinder by the popular press, after the character natty bumppo in james fenimore coopers adventure series leather stocking tales. In 1841, fremont married jessie benton, daughter of missouri senator, thomas benton, champion of the expansionist movement. Apr 26, 2015 southerners wanted slavery to extend westward while northerners and abolitionists wanted slavery excluded from the west. The reports from his expeditions helped encourage people to move westward. The story begins in 1839 when fremont is chosen to lead the trek into the oregon territory with the help of kit carson which gets under way in 1843. A new book explores that era through the story of john c.
The career of john charles fremont 1890 celebrates and ties together the full. John fremont, politician, explorer and abolitionist african. He was a white american soldier, politician and abolitionist. College but was expelled in 1831 for bad attendance. Fremont in the rocky mountains photo from nevada public radio though fremont lost the presidential election, his political career was far from over. In a political atmosphere constantly on edge, the presidential election of 1856 promised to be exciting. Jul 30, 2019 john charles fremont january 21, 18 july, 1890 was an american military officer, explorer and the first candidate of the antislavery republican party for president of the united states.
Fremont, and the claiming of the american west, new york, new york. Map, available online, 1840 to 1849, fremont, john charles. Kit carson john c fremont and the claiming of the american. Together, they became the countrys first celebrity power couple. I d come across numerous times in other biographies, other history books. Fremont for declaring himself the governor of california, among other misdeeds where lee served as the prosecuting attorney. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that. Fremont surveyor, presidential candidate, governor, senator, alsoran fremont placed a distant second both as a republican in the presidential campaign. Fremont the explorer and fremont in the civil war by allan nevins near fine condition fine condition dust jacket protected in a clear, brodart covers original, sharp, bright, clean, solidly bound book contains illustrations, photographs and maps. John charles fremont or fremont january 21, 18 july, 1890 was an american explorer, military officer, and politician.
The robinson library united states 18451861 biography, az. Two of jessie benton fremonts books about the familys travels are available. Fremont, can be found at the nevada state museum in las vegas for the next yearcredit. Fremonts explorations of the west in the 1840s were undertaken with the sponsorship of the united states government to expand the boundaries of the country, to make maps for americans who wanted to settle in the area, and to notify great britain and mexico that the u. This volume was lees personal reference collection, and he participated in many of the trials, including the famous 1848 mutiny court martial of john c. Opinion its 1856 all over again the new york times. The explorations of john charles fremont, made under an act of congress, were of much importance in placing before the people a faithful description of the region west of the mississippi and missouri rivers his first expedition was made in 1842 with only 21 men from the st. S intended to expand its borders all the way to the. He explored and surveyed much of the american west, in particular the oregon trail, during the. Fremont, a wilderness explorer turned politician, and his wife, jessie. Fremont and exploration of the american west overview. Nicknamed the pathfinder, john charles fremont gained fame several years before the mexican american war through his vividly written reports of his exploring and surveying expeditions through the american west. In 1840, while in washington, he met jessie benton, the 15yearold daughter of missourias senator, thomas hart benton. John charles fremont and the course of american empire tom.
Nprs steve inskeep, discussing his book imperfect union. Fremont used books, rare books and new books find all books by john c. Maps also printed on end pages referenced with full index published by frederick ungar. John charles fremont 181890 explorer, surveyor, military man and politician, fremont was born on january 21, 18, in savannah, georgia. The report of the exploring expedition to the rocky mountains in the year 1842, and to california in the years 184344, by brevet captain j. Author of the exploring expedition to the rocky mountains, oregon and california to which is added a description of the physical geography of california, with recent.
Gold rush era politician yesteryear once more says. Explorer, politician 21jan18 jul1890 subject of books. He studied civil engineering at charleston south carolina college, but was expelled before graduation. John charles fremont, the pathfinder mesquite local news. He established several routes to the west and his wife jessie, an excellent writer, helped to turn his government reports into well received books which established fremont s reputation. Louis, missouri area, principally creole and canadian voyageurs who had become familiar with prairie. What an 1850s political power couple can teach us about voting in 2020 nprs steve inskeep, discussing his book imperfect union. The story begins in 1839 when fremont is chosen to lead the trek into the oregon territory with the help of kit carson which. They had spent the spring and summer of 1843 trekking west into the oregon territory pacific northwest, exploring and mapping as they went. He was a us senator from california, and in 1856 was the first republican nominee for president of the united states.
John fremont was an explorer, military officer, and politician who led multiple surveying expeditions through the west. John charles fremont and the course of american empire. The life and legacy of the legendary american explorer. Mar 06, 2017 without doubt, his years as feisty surveyor and intrepid explorer mark his claim to fame in the record books of early u. Explorer, presidential candidate, civil war general. His haphazard education was largely due to his distaste for routine and discipline, qualities that would help him to excel as an explorer later in life.
Without doubt, his years as feisty surveyor and intrepid explorer mark his claim to fame in the record books of early u. The two fell in love and hoped to be married, but her parents resisted because of her age. When his father died when john was just five years old, the family moved to charleston, south carolina where he attended college before being expelled for irregular attendance. The amazing life of the explorer who first mapped the west and forever c. Fremont was one of most famous explorers of the american west and a towering figure in the history of californias 19thcentury gold rush. But amid all the violence, the campaign of the new republican party, headed by famed explorer john c. Military officer, explorer, and politician john charles fremont 1890 led several expeditions through presentday colorado from 184353. Fremont became a senator, governor, general, and ran for president. Among other field services, in 1842 fremont mapped most of the oregon trail and climbed the second highest peak in the wind river mountains. Fremont was a soldier, politician, and explorer who traveled extensively through the american west. He was a us senator from california, and in 1856 was the first republican nominee for president of the united states a native of georgia, fremont acquired male protectors after his fathers death, and became proficient in mathematics, science, and surveying. John charles fremont, the american adventurer, the freespirited women who impelled him to dare undreamedoffeats, and the young nation they helped to shape.
Jul 01, 2007 politically savvy after years of sitting at her fathers desk, articulate, charming and a great writer who helped draft johns explorer journals into popular books, jessie benton was a critical. Called the pathfinder, he was hailed as a great explorer of the west. John c fremont bio, facts, family famous birthdays. Fremont, who was the republican presidential contender in 1856, evokes heroic memories of his famous exploring expeditions to the rocky mountains. The life and legacy of the legendary american explorer known as the pathfinder. John charles fremont january 21, 18 july, 1890 was an american military officer, explorer and the first candidate of the antislavery republican party for president of the united states. Fremont, in full john charles fremont, born january 21, 18, savannah, georgia, u. However, hed done well in math and got a teaching job on a.
How jessie and john fremont mapped the west, invented celebrity and helped cause the civil war, finds some similarities with todays political situation in the united. Finding fremont, an exhibit about 19thcentury explorer john c. Fremonts expeditions of the american west legends of. Fremonts most popular book is the exploring expedition to the rocky mountains, oregon. The carter center 453 john lewis freedom parkway ne, atlanta, ga 30307. John charles fremont was born in 18 in savannah, georgia, and grew up in. Explorer for a restless nation 1977, but egan focused on fremont as an explorer rather than write. While fremont did little original exploring as he mostly followed trails that had already been established, he did publish narratives and maps based on his expeditions. Published in report of the exploring expedition to the rocky mountains in the year 1842 and to oregon and north california in the years 184344. David roberts is the author of twentyfour books on mountaineering. Among other field services, in 1842 fremont mapped most of the oregon trail and climbed the second highest peak in the. Fremont and compare prices find signed collectible books by john c. From savannah, georgia, educated at charleston college, he taught mathematics before joining the army topographical engineers corps in 1838.
Inskeep is a cohost of morning edition on npr and the author of a book about john c. Upon outbreak of the civil war, fremont was commissioned major general right and given command of the union armys western department, headquarted at st. Fremont january 21, 18 july, 1890 held a controversial and unusual place in mid19th century america. Senator from california, governor of arizona territory, and major general in during the civil war. However, hed done well in math and got a teaching job on a warship. The record of his court martial for mutiny and other charges, resulting from his activities in california during the mexicanamerican war, as recorded in war department general orders no. Isbn 9780874744392 9780874744392 softcover, smithsonian institution press, 1988. Fremont, american military officer and an early explorer and mapmaker of the american west, who was one of the principal figures in opening up that region to settlement and was instrumental in the u. His travels through northern colorado in 1843 helped create a series of famous oregon trail maps. Fremont january 21, 18july, 1890 held a controversial and unusual place in mid19th century america. Polks policy of manifest destiny the westward expansion of the united states in the 1840s.
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