Eric Dombrowsky, age 14, of Santa Cruz, Calif., for his question:
WHO WAS JOHN C. FREMONT?
John C. Fremont was the first nominee for the U.S. presidency of a brand new Republican party back in 1856. Fremont didn't win the election, he lost to James Buchanan, but the second man backed by this party did win. He was Abraham Lincoln, who was nominated and won the presidency in 1860.
Even though he didn't become president, Fremont did accomplish a great deal during his exciting life.
As an officer in the Army Topographical Corps, Fremont worked as a surveyor in the Carolina mountains. He made his first important survey in the Wind River chain of the Rockies in 1841. The famous Kit Carson acted as his guide for this and other expeditions. Fremont was called "The Pathfinder."
In 1842 Fremont explored part of the Oregon country and from there went to California, which was then a Mexican province.
Fremont's third expedition was made in 1845 with the Mexican War in prospect. In California, he quickly aroused the suspicions of the Mexican authorities, who ordered him to leave. Instead, he inspired discontented Americans in~the Sacramento Valley to organize the "Bear Flag" revolt.
Fremont became involved in a case of disputed and conflicting orders and was court martieled for insubordination. Even though President James Polk overruled the verdict of guilty, Fremont resigned from the Army.
Fremont's fourth expedition was made as a civilian in 1848, but it failed. So Fremont settled in California and served as a U.S. senator from 1850 until 1851. Gold was found on his property, making him a wealthy man.
Early in the Civil Was, President Lincoln gave Fremont command of the Union Army's Western Department. He angered Lincoln when he took over the property of rebelling Missouri slave owners and freed their slaves. He was then transferred to West Virginia.
Later, from 1878 until 1883, Fremont served as territorial governor of Arizona.
Fremont was born in Savannah, Ga., in 1813 and attended the College of Charleston. He then joined the Navy and became a teacher of mathematics on a U.S. Navy ship in 1833. Later he switched from the Navy to the Army.
In 1841 Fremont married a girl named Jessie Benton, the daughter of a famous U.S. senator from Missouri, Thomas Hart Benton. Although at first Benton was against the marriage, he later helped his new son in law get government approval for his western explorations.
Fremont's maps and reports helped pioneers guide many wagon trains to the west. His well made maps covered a great deal of territory along the Oregon Trail as well as in the Great Salt Lake and Columbia River areas. His California maps were also excellent.
Fremont died in 1890 at the age of 77.