Fremont,  John  Charles,  was  born  in  Savan-
nah, Ga.,  Jan.  21, 1813,  and  graduated  at  Charles-
ton College  in  1830.  His  father  was  a  French-
man, and  his  mother  a  Virginian.  He  was  in-
structor in  mathematics  in  tbe  United  States
Navy  from  1833  to  1835.  Engaged  in  surveying
the  Cherokee  country  in  the  winter  of  1837-38,
he  began  his  famous  explorations,  first  in  the
country  between  the  Missouri  River  and  the
British  possessions.  He  had  been,  appointed
second  lieutenant  of  Topographical  Engineers
in  July.    In  1841  he  married  a  daughter  of  Sen-


FEfiMONT


540         FREMONT'S  EMBARRASSMENTS


'  ator  Thomas  H.  Benton,  and  in  May,  1842,  lie
began,  under  the  authority  of  the  goveruiuent,
the  exploration  of  au  overland  route  to  the  Pa-
cific Ocean.  He  ascended  the  highest  peak  of
the  Wind  River  Mountains,  which  was  aft-er-
wards  named  "  Fremont's  Peak."  He  explored
the  Great  Salt  Lake  region  in  1843,  and  pene-
trated to  the  Pacific  near  tlie  mouth  of  the  Co-
lumbia River.  In  1845  he  explored  the  Sierra
Nevada,  in  California,  and  in  1846  became  iu-
volved  in  hostilities  with  the  Mexicans  on  the
Pacific  coast.     He  assisted  in  the  conquest  of


JOHN  CHARLES  FREMONT.
