(1813-1890) – Explorer, Surveyor, Military Man and Politician, Fremont was born on January 21, 1813 in Savannah, Georgia. His career as an explorer began when he left the Navy to join the United States Topographical Corps, which later became the Army Corps of Engineers. In 1841 and for the next ten years Fremont spent in exploring the country between the Missouri River and the Rocky Mountains, and all the way to the Pacific Coast (see Freemont’s Expeditions.) His reports gave to many, their first knowledge of what is now the many states of the American West and his work won for him, the nickname of “Pathfinder.” He lost his fortune through bad investments with railroads and moved to Arizona, where he was made territorial governor from 1878 to 1883. In 1887 Fremont returned to California. General Fremont was the author of various works, most of them relating to his explorations. He died on July 13, 1890, in New York City.