John Charles Fremont: The Last American Explorer

by Ronald Syme

A biography of the nineteenth-century soldier, politician, and explorer whose many expeditions helped open up the western territories to settlers. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0688201202
• ISBN13: 9780688201203
• Release Date: January 1974
• Publisher: William Morrow & Company
• Length: 190 Pages
• Weight: 0.85 lbs.
• Age Range: 8 to 12 years
• Grade Range: Grades 3 to 7

Customer Reviews

John Charles Fremont: The Last American Explorer by Ronald Syme (Hardcover)

Description from the book dust jacket: The map of the western United States is dotted with counties, towns, mountains and rivers that bear the name of Fremont. They are a living tribute to the great pathfinder whose efforts did so much to influence the country's history. In this skillfully written biography Ronald Syme recounts the story of Fremont's five expeditions and explains what they achieved. Fremont's first expedition took place in 1842-1843, and his report on it established a reliable route for Americans traveling to Oregon and California. Following journeys opened up further new territory and, indeed, brought California to statehood. Fremont's early successes, however, were overshadowed by his later failures. He resigned his Army commission after being court-martialed, acquired millions and lost them, conducted an unsuccessful presidential campaign, served as a controversial Civil War General. Throughout runs the shining thread of Fremont's romance with his wife, Jessie, daughter of the powerful Senator Thomas Hart Benton. Drawing on diaries and letters of the period, Mr. Syme has created a portrait of an erratic but brillant and fascinating man.