FREMONT, JOHN CHARLES. an eminent American traveler and explorer, son of a French emigrant gentleman acid a Virginian lady, was b. at Savannah, GA., Jan. 21, 1813. He lost his' father at the age of four years, and removed to Charleston with his mother, where, at the age of 15, he entered Charleston college. For two years, he taught mathematics on hoard the sloop-of-war Natchez, received his degree in 1835, and soon after passed a rigorous examination for the post of professor of mathematics in the navy, and was appointed to_the frigate Independence; but resolving to quit the sea, he turned his attention to civil-engineeriug, and was employed in the Mississippi survey, and similar undertakings. In 1840, he received from president Van Boren a commis sion as second-lieut. in the corps of topographical engineers, and was ordered to make an examination of the river Des Moines, upon the western frontier. In 1841, he mar ried the daughter of col. Benton. He now proposed to penetrate the Rocky mountains, and, his plans being approved of, he reached and explored the South pass in 1842, with only a handful of men. He thus demonstrated the feasibility of au overland communi cation between the two sides of the continent, and discovered the route to California, since followed by thousands. During the whole of his journey, he made careful barometrical and astronomical observations, and noted attentively the geography, botany, and geology of the district. A lofty peak which he ascended, 13,750 ft. above the sea, is now called Fremont's peak. His report of the expedition was laid before congress in the winter of 1842-43, and attracted great attention both at home and abroad.
He immediately planned a second expedition more extensive than the first, and determined to survey the then unknown regions lying between the Rocky mountains and the Pacific ocean. He commenced his journey in May, 1843, explored the Kansas river, crossed the South pass, and, after 1700 miles of traveling, cave, on Sept. 6, in sight of the Great Salt Lake, of which very vague and erroneous notions were enter '? tamed. He advanced as far as fort Vancouver, 90 M. from the mouth of the Columbia river, and then commenced his return. He selected a route leading to the upper Colo rado, through an almost unknown region, crossed by rugged mountain-ridges. He soon encountered deep snows, and found himself in a bare and desolate country, with the prospect before him of death from cold and hunger to his whole party. After suffering the greatest hardships, he determined to make for San Francisco instead of the United States, and when he could get no Indian to guide him across the snow-covered moun tains which lay between him and the valleys of California, he boldly undertook the passage without a guide. • Ile accomplished it in 40 days, reaching Setter's fort on the
Sacramento, early in Mar., with his men almost reduced to skeletons, and only 53 out of 67 horses and mules remaining, and those so weak and thin that they could barely walk. He proceeded southward, along the western range of the Sierra Nevada, crossed that range through a gap. entered the great basin, and reached Washington in Aug., 1841. The remainder of the year was taken up in preparing his report. In considers tion of his valuable services, F. was breveted rapt. in Jan., 1845, and in the spring of the same year set out on a third expedition to explore the great basin the maritime region of California. He took part in the war with Mexico, and cleared the northern part of California from Mexican troops. He then became involved in a dispute between two of his superior officers in regard to the right of command in California, which led to his trial by court-martial, and the unjust deprivation of his commission. The president offered to reinstate him, but as it was justice and not favor that he demanded, he resigned his position in the army.
In 1848, he started upon a fourth expedition, at his own expense, trying to find a practicable passage to California, along the upper waters of Rio Grande. In attemptinglo cross the great Sierra covered with snow, his guide lost his way, and F.'s party encountered horrible. suffering, being even driven to cannibalism to support life, and losing one third 4if their numbers. -In 1849, he settled in California, and in the same year was elected senator for that state. In 1850, baron Humboldt, on behalf of the king of Prussia, sent him " the great golden medal for progress in the sciences," while at the same time the geographical society of Berlin made him an honorary member. The royal geographical society of London also awarded him the " founder's medal for pre-eminent services in promoting the cause of geographical science." In 1853, he con ducted a fifth expedition along the route of the fourth. In 1856, lie stood for the presi dency, and received 114 electoral votes from 11 states. In 1861, lie was made a maj.gen., but gave up his command in 1862. In 1864, he was again nominated for the presidency, but withdrew in favor of Lincoln. He has since engaged in various railroad enterprises to the Pacific coast.