FREMONT, JonN CHARLES (ante), b. 1813; a distinguished American explorer and politician, at present (1880) governor of the territory of Arizona. In 1838, he was com missioned second lieutenant in the topographical engineers. In 1840, while in Wash ington making up reports of certain explorations in which he had been engaged, he met Jessie, the daughter of col. Thomas Hart Benton, U. S. senator from Missouri. She was only 15 years of age, and her father, hearing that she had engaged herself to Fre mont, was so enraged that, by his influence, the lieutenant was sent upon a distant expedition to examine the Des Moines river. He completed his work within a year, and, returning, contracted a secret marriage. In 1842, a geographical survey of all the territories of the United States was proposed by him, and, although his idea was not entirely carried out, he was sent to explore the Rocky mountains, and directed to pay partieular'attention to the South pass. In his accomplishment of this task, he ascended the mountain known as Fremont's peak-13,570 ft. above sea-level. His report of this expedition was much appreciated. His next enterprise was the exploration of the Rocky mountains towards the Pacific coast. Many persons still living remember when school geographies represented the.vast region now covered by Nebraska, Kansas, Mis souri, etc., as the "great American desert." Early in 1843, F. started with 39 men, and, after a journey of 1700 m., came to Great Salt lake, about which there had been no accurate information. Thence he proceeded northward to the tributaries of the Columbia river, following the valley to fort Vancouver. In November, he started upon his return, choosing a route through an almost unknown region, between the Columbia and Colorado. He and his men suffered terribly from the severe winter weather. In California, he found himself shut in by mountains, which, as he learned from the Indians, had never been crossed by a human being. In spite of this, he proceeded without a guide, and in less than seven weeks arrived at Sutter's fort, in California, the spot where, four years later, gold was to be discovered. Continuing his journey, on the 24th March lie proceeded by the w. base of the Sierra Nevada, and crossing that range,' revisited Great Salt lake, and by way of the South pass reached Kansas in July, 1844. Many months were passed in preparing his reports. In the spring of 1845, he started upon his third trip, intending to explore the great basin (now Utah), and the sea-coasts of California and Oregon. After examining the upper portions of the great rivers that run from the "divide" .of the Rocky mountains towards the Mississippi and the Pacific, he made a further inspection of Great Salt lake. Thence he continued the exploration of the Sierra Nevada, again crossing that chain. in midwinter. Leaving his escort at San Joaquin to recruit. he went on to Monterey, then the capital of California, to ask permission of the Mexican authorities to _proceed. Permission was granted; but rumors of the war just commenced between Mexico and the United States alarmed the authorities, and the permission was revoked, and F. was ordered to leave the country at once. He refused, gathered his 64 men together, and established a fort on Hawk's . peak, 30 in. from Monterey. Here he was besieged by a large Mexican force for four days, and forced to withdraw in the direction of San Joaquin. He had scarcely started when a message proposing a cessation of hostilities reached him, and F. was able to proceed without further annoyance through the Sacramento valley to Oregon. Near Klamath lake he fell in (Majr 9, 1849) with a 'party sent,in search of him, with instructions from his government. He was enjoined to watch over the interests of his country in the event of Mexico entering into treaty with England for the transfer of California.
Castro, the Mexican governor in California, had threatened to destroy the American settlements along the Sacramento, and learning this, Fremont at once took stringent measures, and rescued the settlements. In less than a month he freed upper California from Mexican rule, and on the 4th of July was elected governor by the Americans. A week later, he learned that commodore Sloat, who comMauded the U. S. squadron in the Pacific,' had seized Monterey. On the 19th, Fremont joined him, with 160 mounted riflemen. At the same time, commodore Stockton arrived in the frigate Gong res:s. with authority from the United States government to conquer Cali fornia. At his desire, Fremont organized tlieinounted men known as the " California battalion," of which lie was made major. Stikkton also appointed F. civil governor of the territory, and Jan. 13, 1847, a capitulation was concluded which ended the war, and made California a possession of the United States. About this time gen. Kearney, with a force of dragoons, arrived, and a long quarrel ensued, owing to jealousy between him and Fremont, which resulted in the arrest of F., his trial by court-martial, and sentence to be dismissed from the service. The president remitted the penalty, but F. was so indignant that he at once resigned. Still intent upon overland exploration, in Oct., 1848, he started on his fourth trip across the continent, and at his own expense. With 33 companions, he sought to find a practicable route to California, passing along the upper waters of the Rio Grande del Norte, meeting several tribes of Indians who were at war with the United States. In crossing the Sierra Nevadas, then deeply cov ered with snow, he and his men endured the most terrible sufferings, some of them being driven to cannibalism. More than a third of the men and all the animals perished, and those who remained were compelled to return to New Mexico. Still persistent, Fremont collected another party of 30 men, and in the spring of 1849, after prolonged effort. found his way over the various mountain ranges to the Sacramento. Satisfied at last, Fremont settled in California, and was sent by the legislature as senator to repre sent the new state in congress, He now devoted his attention to the interests of Cali fornia. although, having drawn the short term, he remained but a few months in office. In 1851, he failed of re-election to the senate, after 142 ballotings. In 1852, he made a tour in Europe, returned the next year, and organized another expedition across the continent to complete the surveys undertaken upon his fourth trip. On this occasion, he and his men endured great hardships, but they discovered passes through the moun tains, and finally reached California in safety. In 1856, Fremont was the candidate of the newly formed republican party for president, but was defeated, having only 114 votes, against 174 for James Buchanan, the democratic candidate. In the war of the rebellion, he was appointed maj.gen., and obtained. command of the western dis trict. O.n the last day of Aug., 1861, he ordered the emancipation of the slaves of those who, in his district, were in arms against the United States; but the president revoked it as unauthorized and premature. In this, F. anticipated by only 13 months the president's own proclamation, but iu consequence of it lie was relieved from com mand. A few months later, he was reinstated, and intrusted with the command of the mountain region of Virginia, Tennessee, and Kentucky. After the indecisive battle at Cross Keys, June 8, 1862, Fremont declined to serve, as gen. Pope was in command of the army of Virginia, and was an officer whom Fremont ranked. June 12, 1878, he was appointed governor of Arizona territory, and is still in office.