Jean Baptiste Charbonneau facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jean Baptiste Charbonneau
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Memorial to Charbonneau at Fort Washakie
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| Born | February 11, 1805 Fort Mandan, present-day Washburn, North Dakota, U.S.
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| Died | May 16, 1866 (aged 61) |
| Resting place | Jordan Valley Hamlet Cemetery, Danner, Oregon, U.S. |
| Other names | Jean, Pompey ("Pomp" or "Little Pomp") |
| Known for | Accompanied the Lewis and Clark Expedition as an infant |
| Parent(s) | Sacagawea Toussaint Charbonneau |
Jean Baptiste Charbonneau (born February 11, 1805 – died May 16, 1866) was an important explorer and guide. He was also a fur trapper, trader, and military scout. He even worked as a mayor and a gold miner.
Jean Baptiste was the son of Sacagawea, a Shoshone woman. She was a guide and interpreter for the famous Lewis and Clark Expedition. His father, Toussaint Charbonneau, was also part of the expedition.
Jean Baptiste was born at Fort Mandan in North Dakota. As a baby, he traveled with his parents on their journey across America. William Clark, one of the expedition leaders, gave him the nickname Pompey, or "Pomp."
After his mother passed away, Jean Baptiste lived with William Clark in St. Louis, Missouri. Clark made sure he received a good education. Jean Baptiste learned many languages, including French, English, German, and Spanish. He also spoke Shoshone and other Native American languages.
Jean Baptiste and his mother, Sacagawea, are shown on the United States Sacagawea dollar coin. He is one of the few children ever featured on American money. Places like Pompeys Pillar National Monument in Montana and the town of Charbonneau, Oregon are named after him.
Contents
Childhood Adventures
The Lewis and Clark Expedition
Jean Baptiste Charbonneau was born in early 1805. His mother was Sacagawea, a Shoshone woman. His father was Toussaint Charbonneau, a French Canadian trapper. He was born at Fort Mandan in North Dakota.
This was during the Lewis and Clark Expedition. The expedition leaders, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, hired Jean Baptiste's father as an interpreter. They also brought Sacagawea along because she was Shoshone. They knew they would need to trade with the Shoshone for horses later.
Meriwether Lewis wrote in his journal about Jean Baptiste's birth. He noted that the baby traveled with the expedition from North Dakota to the Pacific Ocean and back. He was carried in boats or on his mother's back. Many historians believe his presence helped show Native tribes that the expedition was peaceful. They thought no war party would travel with a woman and a child.
Growing Up with William Clark
In April 1807, the Charbonneau family moved to St. Louis, Missouri. This was about a year after the Lewis and Clark expedition ended. William Clark invited them to live there.
Jean Baptiste's parents later returned to the Mandan villages. They left him to live with Clark. Jean Baptiste continued to live with Clark for many years.
Clark paid for Jean Baptiste's schooling at St. Louis Academy. This was a Jesuit Catholic school. It is now called St. Louis University High School. The cost of his education was quite high for that time.
Clark had a large home with a museum. It displayed national flags, portraits, and Native artifacts. It also had mounted animal heads. Jean Baptiste learned a lot from this amazing collection as he grew up.
Adult Life and Travels
Journey to Europe
On June 21, 1823, Jean Baptiste was eighteen years old. He met Duke Paul Wilhelm of Württemberg from Europe. Jean Baptiste was working at a trading post in Kansas. The Duke was traveling in America to study nature. Jean Baptiste's father was his guide.
The Duke invited Jean Baptiste to travel back to Europe with him. Jean Baptiste agreed to go. They sailed from St. Louis in December 1823.
Jean Baptiste lived at the Duke's palace in Württemberg for almost six years. There, he learned German and Spanish. He also improved his English and French. He traveled with the Duke across Europe and northern Africa.
Family Life
While in Europe, Jean Baptiste had a child named Anton Fries. The baby died when he was about three months old.
Years later, when Jean Baptiste was in California, he had another child. Her name was Maria Catarina Charguana. Her mother was Margarita Sobin, a Luiseño woman.
Working in the West
Trapper and Hunter
In November 1829, Jean Baptiste returned to St. Louis. He was hired as a fur trapper. He worked in places like Idaho and Utah. He attended a big meeting of fur trappers called the Rocky Mountain Rendezvous in 1832.
From 1833 to 1840, Jean Baptiste worked in the fur trade. He worked with other famous mountain men. These included Jim Bridger and James Beckwourth.
Later, he worked at Bent's Fort in Colorado. He was a chief hunter there. He also traded with Native American tribes. People who met him said he was very skilled. One traveler wrote that Jean Baptiste was "the best man on foot on the plains or in the Rocky Mountains."
Military Scout in the Mexican-American War
In October 1846, Jean Baptiste was hired as a scout. He worked for General Stephen W. Kearny. Jean Baptiste knew a lot about military travel. He also spoke Native languages very well. These skills made him perfect for the job.
He joined Colonel Philip St. George Cooke on a long march. They traveled from Santa Fe, New Mexico, to San Diego, California. Their goal was to build the first wagon road to Southern California. They also guided many supply wagons for the military. This happened during the Mexican–American War.
A group of soldiers called the Mormon Battalion built this new road. It went over the uncharted southwest. A memorial to their journey and to Jean Baptiste has been built. It is near the San Pedro River. Colonel Cooke mentioned Jean Baptiste many times in his diary.
This wagon road became known as Cooke's Road. It was used by settlers, miners, and stagecoaches. Parts of the route later became major roads and railroads.
Serving as an Alcalde
In November 1847, Jean Baptiste became an alcalde (mayor). This was at Mission San Luis Rey de Francia in California. This job made him the only civilian authority in the area. He acted as a sheriff, lawyer, and judge all in one.
The area was recovering from the war. Jean Baptiste tried to fix problems and bring order. He worked to stop unfair practices. He also tried to ban selling alcohol to Native Americans. These changes were difficult to enforce. Jean Baptiste resigned from his position in August 1848.
Gold Mining Adventures
In September 1848, Jean Baptiste arrived in Placer County, California. This was near what is now Auburn, California. He arrived early in what became known as the California Gold Rush.
He joined other prospectors to mine for gold in the river. He was a successful miner. He continued to work in the area for almost sixteen years.
Jean Baptiste was able to afford the high cost of living in the mining region. By 1860, he was working as a hotel manager. He managed the Orleans Hotel in Auburn. In April 1866, he left California to look for new opportunities. He may have been heading to Montana to search for more gold.
Later Years and Passing
It is not clear why Jean Baptiste left Auburn, California. The local economy was not doing well, which might have been a reason. He may have been going to the Owyhee Mountains or to Virginia City, Montana, where a lot of gold had been found.
His journey likely took him by stagecoach. He traveled east along the Humboldt River Trail. Then he went north towards Oregon. He reached a crossing at the Owyhee River. An accident happened there, and Jean Baptiste went into the river. The cause of the accident is not known. He might have fallen from a stagecoach or a horse. The river could have been very rough due to melting snow.
Jean Baptiste became ill. He was taken to Inskip Station in Danner, Oregon. This was a stagecoach stop and general store. He died there on May 16, 1866, at age 61. A newspaper reported that he died of pneumonia.
His gravesite is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is in Oregon. There are three historical markers at his grave. One was placed by the Daughters of the American Revolution in 1971. Another was put there by the Oregon Historical Society in 1973. A third marker was dedicated by the Lemhi Shoshone tribe in 2000. They consider him one of their people because he was Sacagawea's son.
Legacy and Honors
- Jean Baptiste Charbonneau's image appears with his mother, Sacagawea, on the United States Sacagawea dollar coin. He was only the second baby ever shown on U.S. money.
- Pompeys Pillar National Monument in Montana and the community of Charbonneau, Oregon are named after him.
- A special plaque in his honor is located in Old Town, Auburn, California.
See also
