21 Facts About Benjamin Bonneville

Benjamin Bonneville is noted for his expeditions to the Oregon Country and the Great Basin, and in particular for blazing portions of the Oregon Trail.

In 1813 Benjamin Bonneville received an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York.

Benjamin Bonneville graduated after only two years, receiving a commission as brevet second lieutenant of light artillery.

Benjamin Bonneville met with Kelley, who was impressed by him and appointed him to lead one of the expeditions to the Oregon Country; it was scheduled to leave in early 1832.

The expedition that would be known as the most notable accomplishment of his life began in May 1832, when Bonneville left Missouri with 110 men, with field lieutenants Michael Cerre and Joseph R Walker.

Benjamin Bonneville sent a party of men under Walker to explore the Great Salt Lake and find an overland route to California.

Benjamin Bonneville forbade his traders from doing business with Bonneville and his men.

Benjamin Bonneville reported that many of the Native Americans he encountered in the Snake River were reluctant to displease the Hudson's Bay Company by trading with Americans.

Benjamin Bonneville wrote a lengthy letter to General Macomb summarizing some of his findings and requesting more time, specifically to survey the Columbia River and parts of the Southwest before his return.

Benjamin Bonneville followed an easier route across the Blue Mountains, where he met Nathaniel Wyeth and camped along the Grande Ronde River.

Benjamin Bonneville came to realize that he would probably receive the same rejection from McLoughlin at Fort Vancouver and decided to turn back east.

Benjamin Bonneville journeyed east hoping to be able to recover his commission.

Benjamin Bonneville regaled Irving with tales of his adventures, tales that Benjamin Bonneville planned to include in a book he was working on.

The result was The Adventures of Captain Benjamin Bonneville, published in 1837.

In Washington, Benjamin Bonneville petitioned tirelessly to Secretary of War Lewis Cass to have his commission reinstated.

Benjamin Bonneville was part of the occupation of Mexico City.

Benjamin Bonneville was promoted to colonel of the 3rd Infantry Regiment in 1855, and twice commanded the Department of New Mexico.

Benjamin Bonneville retired from active service in 1861 but was recalled to duty during the Civil War.

Benjamin Bonneville retired a second time in 1866 and moved to Fort Smith, Arkansas, where he married Sue Neis.

Benjamin Bonneville is buried at Bellefontaine Cemetery in St Louis, Missouri.

Benjamin Bonneville was eligible to join both the Aztec Club of 1847 and the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States, military societies for officers who had served in the Mexican War and American Civil War, respectively, but he did not join either.