Benjamin
Bonneville was born in Paris, France, on
14th April, 1796. His family emigrated to America in 1803 and Bonneville
was educated at West Point.
In
1832 Bonneville was granted leave from the army to "gather data
on the topography of the region west of the Rockies and the north
of Mexico". He spent three years in the Rocky
Mountains
and built a trading post on the Green River. Bonneville recruited
Joseph
Walker
as
his field commander and the party spent two seasons trapping beavers
on the Salmon River.
In
1833 Bonneville suggested to Walker that he should take a party of
men to California. The beaver appeared
to be decline in the Rocky Mountains
and it was thought that new trapping opportunities would be found
in this unexplored territory. Walker and his party of forty men left
Green River on 20th August, 1833. The journey was a great success
and Walker's party became the first Americans to explore the Yosemite
Valley. On their return trip Walker discovered a good route through
the Sierra Nevada mountains (the Walker
Pass).
Bonneville
twice led parties to the Columbia River in Oregon but on both occasions
he was forced out of the area by the British owned Hudson's
Bay Company.
In
September 1835 Bonneville returned to Washington. Later he saw action
in the Seminole War in Florida and the Mexican
War.
He also took part in the Vera Cruz expedition under Winfield
Scott. He took part in the occupation of Mexico City but was court
martialled for "misbehavior before the enemy".
Bonneville
spent time at Fort Kearny and Fort Vancouver before being given command
of the military department of New Mexico. He retired in 1861 but was
recalled to duty during the American Civil War. In 1865 he was promoted
to the rank of Brigadier General.
Benjamin
Bonneville died on
12th June, 1878.
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