John C. Freemont

John C. Fremont played many roles in our American history, especially in shaping the West. Born illegitimately by a Virginia society woman and poor French refugee on January 21st 1813 in Savanna Georgia, John grew up to be an explorer, American military officer, and a politician.

Fremont at first assisted explorer Joseph Nichollet in the late 1830’s in exploring from the Mississippi to the Missouri Rivers. When he had enough training, he lead explorations throughout most of the American west, especially on the Oregon Trail. He also mapped parts of the Des Moines River and explored the Sierra Nevada, in which he is thought to be the first to see Lake Tahoe.

John Freemont was also a great military leader. He led 300 of his men during the Mexican-American War to capture Santa Barbara in California, but when Mexican general Pico learned of this, he surrendered to him since he acknowledged defeat and did not want to sacrifice anymore Mexican blood to a lost cause. Freemont also served in the Civil was as a major general, but when he declared martial law in Missouri and freed several slaves to show his unauthorized spirit for abolition in the West, Abraham Lincoln removed him from the West in 1861. After, he was given a post in West Virginia but he resigned after losing

several battles.

Not only was he a renowned explorer and military leader, but also politician. After the Mexican-American War in California ended with the Treaty of Cahuenga, Fremont was given the position of Governor of California in 1847. Not only this, but from 1850 to 1851 he became one of the first 2 California Senators and in the election of 1856 he became the first candidate for presidency for the Republican party but lost to James Buchannan. He was also the first to run on a platform of opposition to slavery out of all the major parties. After, from 1878 to 1881, Fremont was given the position of the