Benjamin Bonneville

Lore & Background

Benjamin Bonneville was born in or near Paris, France, the son of publisher Nicholas Bonneville and Marguerite Brazier. When he was seven, his family moved to the United States; their passage was paid by Thomas Paine, who had lodged with the Bonnevilles and was godfather to Benjamin and his two brothers. Paine's will left the bulk of his estate to Marguerite, including 100 acres of his New Rochelle farm. In 1813 Bonneville entered the United States Military Academy at West Point, graduating after two years as a brevet second lieutenant of light artillery. He served at posts in New England, Mississippi, and Fort Smith in the Arkansas Territory, and was promoted to captain in 1824 while at Fort Gibson in the Indian Territory.

Inspired by the writing of Hall J. Kelley and editorials in the St. Louis Enquirer, Bonneville sought to explore the American West. After a planned expedition with Kelley fell through due to lack of volunteers, he petitioned General Alexander Macomb for a leave of absence from the military, arguing he could perform reconnaissance among Native Americans in the Oregon Country. Macomb granted a 26-month leave from August 1831 to October 1833, instructing him to gather information on natural history, climate, soils, geography, topography, mineral production, geology, and local tribes. Expenses were paid by private donors, including Alfred Seton and possibly John Jacob Astor.

In May 1832, Bonneville left Missouri with 110 men, financed by John Jacob Astor. The expedition reached the Green River in August and built a fur trading post called Fort Bonneville, though mountain men called it 'Fort Nonsense.' In spring 1833, he explored the Snake River and sent a party under Joseph R. Walker to explore the Great Salt Lake and find an overland route to California. Walker discovered a route along the Humboldt River and Walker Pass across the Sierra Nevada, later known as the California Trail. Bonneville's attempts to trade with the Hudson's Bay Company were rebuffed, and after failing to return east on time, his commission was revoked. He later met Washington Irving, who used his notes and maps to write The Adventures of Captain Bonneville, published in 1837.

Reader's Guide

Benjamin Bonneville's significance lies primarily in his exploration of the American West during the early 1830s, particularly his role in blazing portions of the Oregon Trail and his expedition's discovery of the California Trail via the Humboldt River and Walker Pass. Although his fur trading post proved unsuccessful, his journeys provided valuable geographical and ethnographic information about the Oregon Country and Great Basin. His legacy was amplified by Washington Irving's popular account, which made Bonneville a famous figure in his lifetime. Bonneville's military career continued after his explorations, including service in the Mexican-American War and command of the 3rd Infantry Regiment. His expeditions contributed to the broader American expansion westward, and the routes his men charted later became critical for settlers during the California Gold Rush. However, some historians have speculated that his sending of Walker to California may have been intended to lay groundwork for a potential U.S. Army invasion of Mexican territory, though this remains uncertain.

Did You Know?

• Bonneville's family's passage to the United States was paid by Thomas Paine, who was godfather to Benjamin and his brothers.
• His fur trading post, Fort Bonneville, was called 'Fort Nonsense' by mountain men and was never used for trading.
• Bonneville's expedition included a 10-year-old Shoshone guide named John Enos, who later served as a scout for the Fremont expedition.
• He met Washington Irving through his patron John Jacob Astor and sold his maps and notes to Irving for $1,000.