CARVER, JONATIIAN (1732-80). An Ameri can traveler. lle was born in Stillwater, COML, studied medicine for a time, served in the Colonial army throughout the Freime't aml Iulion War,. and after the conclusion of pence in 1763 resolved to explore the territory beyond the :Mississippi acquired by Great Britain front France, and to proceed, if possible, as far as the Pacific Ocean. lie started front Boston in June, 1766, proceeded to Michilimackinac, 1300 miles away, arranged with the Governor there to fur nish him at an early date with needed supplies at the Falls of Saint Anthony. and then passed westward along the Fox and Wisconsin rivers to the Mississippi. lint the promised supplies not having been sent to the Falls of Saint Anthony, he spent some tittle with the "Nandowessies of the Plains" (Sioux), explored much of the territory in the present State of Minnesota, and in Oct°• her. 176S, again reached Boston, after having traveled fully 7000 miles, visited twelve nations of Indians, and made many geographieal cries of considerable value. Ile went to England in 1769 to publish his journal, but failed to secure the expected assistance from the Govern ment, and haying spent his whole fortune to further his was forced to earn a livelihood as a hack-writer. Finally, in 1778.
the first edition of his book appeared under the title, Three Trarcls Throughout the In terior Parts of North America. It had a wide sale, a number of editions were published. and translations were eventually made into French and German, "As a contribution to the history of inland discovery upon this continent." says Tyler, "and especially to our materials for true and precise information concerning the manners, customs. religion, and language of the Indians, Carver's book of Trarcts is of unsurpassed value. Besides its worth fur instruction is its worth for delight ; we have•no other 'Indian book more cap tivating than this." Carver also Nv role a pam phlet. A Treatise on the culture of the Tobacco Plant AdapOd to Yorthern climates and signed for the Use of the Landholders of Great Britain (1799). and published under his name a crude compilation. entitled The Universal Traveler. Consult sketches of Carver in Tyler, Vie Literary History of the American lb rota tion (New York. 18971: and in The carver Cent( nary published by the Minnesota Historical Society.