GUNNISON, Jqhn W., American army officer and explorer : b. Goshen, N. H., 11 Nov. 1812; d. near Sevier Lake, Utah, 26 Oct. 1853. Attended an academy at Hopkinton, N. H., finishing his course in December 1832. On 7 July 1838 he was graduated from the United States Military Academy and became second lieutenant, Second Artillery, topographical engineer; he was made first lieutenant 9 July 1848; and captain 3 March 1853. He served in the Florida War of 1837-38 as ordnance officer. He was with the Cherokee Nation 1838, while transferring the Indians to the West, and on improvement of Savannah and Saint Mary's rivers, Georgia, 1840-41; on survey of Lake Michigan,.1841-42, and of Northwestern lakes, 1842-49. He was engaged for nearly 10 years in surveying the Northwestern lakes and in the improvement of harbors, and in 1849-51 was associated with Capt. Howard Stansbury in making maps of the Great Salt Lake region, drawing up an able report on his work; was engaged in 1846, on exploration of Utah and 1849-51 in a survey of Great Salt Lake, Utah; in 1851-53 survey of Northwestern lakes. In
1853, he had charge of the expedition and survey of the central route for a railway from the Mississippi River to the Pacific. On 3 March 1853, he was appointed captain of topographical engineers for 14 years of continuous service. While engaged in the last-named survey he was killed 26 Oct. 1853, near Sevier Lake, Utah, with seven of his exploring party by a band of Mormons and Paiute Indians. This was the first corps of engineers sent by the government to explore the route for Pacific railroads. The scheme was considered visionary at first, then possible and finally accomplished, the benefits being nation wide.