Benjamin Bonneville

Benjamin Bonneville was a brave soldier and a famous explorer.

He was born in France in 1796. His family moved to the United States when he was seven years old. A man named Thomas Paine helped pay for their trip. Paine was a godfather to Benjamin and his two brothers. He even left a farm in New York to Benjamin's mother. This farm helped her take care of her sons. Benjamin later went to West Point to become an officer. He graduated in only two years. He served in many places like Mississippi and Arkansas.

Bonneville had a big dream to see the American West. He wanted to learn about the land and its people. He asked his leader, General Alexander Macomb, for a leave of absence. The General said yes for 26 months. Bonneville was told to act like a fur trader. He needed to study the soil, the weather, and the mountains. He also had to learn about the local tribes. Private people paid for his expensive trip. One man who helped was John Jacob Astor. This mission was a very important job for the government.

In May 1832, the great expedition finally began.

Bonneville led 110 men across the wild country. They traveled through places like Wyoming and the Green River. They even built a trading post named Fort Bonneville. Some mountain men called it "Fort Nonsense" because it was not used for trading. In 1833, Bonneville explored the Snake River in Idaho. He met a young Shoshone boy named John Enos. Enos became a scout for other explorers later on. Bonneville also sent men to find a path to California. They found a way through the mountains called the California Trail. This path helped many people reach gold fields later.

Life was not always easy for Bonneville during his travels. He tried to trade with the Hudson's Bay Company. However, their leaders often refused to do business with him. This made it hard to get food and supplies. He spent some winters living with the Shoshone people. When he finally returned home, he found out his military job was gone. He had to work very hard to get it back. He eventually succeeded in 1836. He went on to fight in the Mexican-American War. He also served during the Civil War. He rose to the high rank of brigadier general.

Bonneville became a household name because of his stories. He met a famous writer named Washington Irving in New York. Irving loved the tales of the West. They made a deal for $1000 to write a book. Irving used Bonneville's maps and notes for the story. The book was called "The Adventures of Captain Bonneville." It was published in 1837 and made him very famous. Many things are named after him today. There is a Bonneville County in Idaho and even a crater on Mars. He lived to be 82 years old. He is buried in a cemetery in St. Louis.