John Evans (explorer) facts for kids
John Thomas Evans (born April 1770 – died May 1799) was a brave explorer from Wales. He is famous for creating one of the first maps of the Missouri River. This map was very important for later explorers like Lewis and Clark.
Contents
A Welsh Explorer's Start
John Evans was born in a place called Waunfawr, near Caernarfon in Wales. In the early 1790s, many people in Wales became very interested in an old story. This story was about a Welsh prince named Madog. People believed he had discovered America long ago.
There were also strong rumors in North America about a tribe of Native Americans who spoke Welsh. Some thought these were the Mandan people. A Welsh writer named Iolo Morganwg first planned to explore the Missouri River to find these Welsh Indians. John Evans was supposed to go with him.
Journey to America
However, Iolo Morganwg decided not to go on the trip. So, John Evans traveled to the United States alone. He arrived in Baltimore in October 1792. In the spring of 1793, he made his way to St. Louis in what was then Spanish Louisiana. There, he was put in prison for a short time. People thought he might be a spy from Britain.
Exploring the Missouri River
In April 1795, John Evans began an important expedition. He had support from the Spanish government. His goal was to explore the Missouri River. He also hoped to find a way from its source to the Pacific Ocean.
In 1796, he found the Mandan people. He spent the winter with them. But he did not find any Welsh speakers among them. He had traveled about 1,800 miles up the Missouri River. This was from where it joined the Mississippi River.
When he returned to St. Louis in 1797, he had created a detailed map. This map showed the path of the Missouri River. Later, Thomas Jefferson passed this map on. It was then used by the famous Lewis and Clark Expedition on their own journey.
Later Life and Legacy
John Evans continued to work for the Spanish authorities. He sadly died in New Orleans in May 1799. His map was a very important contribution to understanding the geography of North America.
In Popular Culture
In 2014, John Evans's story became popular again. A Welsh musician named Gruff Rhys created a book, film, album, and mobile application about him. All of these were called American Interior. Gruff Rhys is the singer for the band Super Furry Animals.
See also
In Spanish: John Evans (explorador) para niños
