FREMONT, JOHN CHARLES, an American explorer, popularly known as "The Pathfinder of the Rocky Moun tains"; born in Savannah, Ga., Jan. 31, 1813, of a mixed French and Virginian parentage. Though left an orphan in his fifth year, he received a good educa tion, having, at the age of 15, entered Charleston College, where he highly dis tinguished himself by his proficiency in mathematics and other kindred sciences. In 1833, after a period during which he had devoted himself to the duties of a private teacher, he was appointed teacher of mathematics on board the United States sloop of war "Natchez," with which he proceeded on a cruise to South America. On his return he turned his attention to civil engineering, and was recommended to the govern ment for employment in the explora tion and survey of the mountainous re gion between South Carolina and Ten nessee. In 1838-1839 he undertook the exploration of the country between the Missouri river and the British frontier, and in 1838 received a commission as 2d lieutenant in the corps of topograph ical engineers. Shortly afterward, he proposed to the government to un dertake the exploration of the Rocky Mountains—at that day a terra incog nita. His plan being approved, he, in 1842, started with a handful of picked men, and reached and explored the South Pass. Not only did he fix the lo cality of that great defile through which thousands have since found their way to California, but he defined the astron omy, geography, botany, geology, and meteorology of that region, described the route since followed, and desig nated the points upon which a line of United States forts were subsequently erected. In 1845 he cleared the N. part of California of Mexican troops, and then, seeking a broader field of activity, planned an expedition to the distant territory of Oregon. He approached the Rocky Mountains by a new line, scaled the summits S. of the South Pass, deflected to the Great Salt Lake, pushed investigations right and left his entire course, and at the same time con nected his survey with that of Commo dore Wilkes' exploring expedition.
Later in the winter, without resources, adequate supplies, or as much as a guide he traversed the wilderness to the Rocky Mountains. In this daring expedition he crossed 3,500 miles of country in sight of eternal snows, discov ering the grand features of Alta Callon, California, its great basin, the Sierra Nevada, the valleys of San Joaquin and Sacramento, and determined the geo graphical position of the W. portion of the North American continent. In 1846 he was promoted lieutenant-colonel and also military commandant and civil governor of the Territory of California, in which capacity he in 1847 concluded those articles of capitulation by which Mexico conceded exclusive possession of that territory to the United States. In the same year he purchased in Califor nia the valuable Mariposa estate, upon which he settled in 1849. In 1853 he undertook a fifth expedition across the Continent, made new discoveries, and reached California after enduring al most incredible hardships. In 1856 he was the first candidate of the Republi can party for the presidency; and in 1861, on the outbreak of the Civil War, was appointed a Major-General of vol unteers. He then, as commander of the Western Union army, marched into Missouri with the view of encountering General Price's Confederate force then in possession of that State, but an un fortunate dispute with a subordinate officer caused the War Department to relieve him of his command. He was governor of Arizona in 1878-1881. His publications include: "Report of the Ex ploring Expedition to the Rocky Moun tains in 1842, and to Oregon and North California in 1843-1844"; "Col. J. C. Fremont's Explorations"; and "Memoirs of My Life." He died in New York City, July 13, 1890.