Kit Carson was an American frontiersman and soldier who was instrumental in the United States’ westward expansion. He was a guide on explorer John C. Fremont’s missions that resulted in the considerable expansion of the United States’ borders. Carson was born in Kentucky into a large family of limited circumstances. He endured a tough upbringing. Kit’s father died while he was a small child, and his mother struggled to raise the children alone. She later remarried, but Kit had a falling out with his stepfather and fled home in search of adventure. He was taught fur-trapping by seasoned frontiersmen and finally became a master in this skill. He dealt with traders from several countries over the years and acquired the ability to speak Spanish, French, and several Native American languages. A unexpected encounter with explorer John Fremont altered the trajectory of his life. Carson was employed by Fremont as a guide and accompanied him on his illustrious trips. Carson became a popular mountain man over time and was idolized as a folk hero for his exploits. Carson had also worked as a wilderness guide, Indian agent, and American Army commander during his highly colorful life.
Childhood & Adolescence
Christopher Houston “Kit” Carson was born in Richmond, Kentucky, on December 24, 1809, to Lindsay Carson and Rebecca Robinson, his second wife. Kit was the youngest of several siblings and half-siblings. His father was a farmer and a Revolutionary War and War of 1812 soldier.
In 1818, his father perished in a freak accident. His mother battled alone for four years, raising several children on her own. She eventually remarried a widower who was already the mother of six children. Kit had a strained relationship with his stepfather.
Kit acquired no formal schooling and worked as an apprentice in Franklin, Missouri, for David Workman, a saddler. Many of the saddle shoe’s clients were fur trappers and traders, and they told Kit thrilling stories about their exploits. The little youngster grew enchanted by these stories and understood that he, too, desired an exciting lifestyle. As a result, he fled the saddle shop in search of a more interesting existence.
A Later Decades
In August 1826, Kit escaped and joined a caravan of fur trappers. He proceeded to Santa Fe with them before settling in Taos. He lived with Mathew Kinkead, a trapper, and explorer who was a friend of his brothers and acquired the trade’s intricacies from him.
Between 1827 and 1829, he worked as a chef, translator, and wagon driver. He also worked in southwestern New Mexico at a copper mine.
In 1829, he joined Ewing Young on a fur-trapping expedition to Arizona and California. He also worked with Jim Bridger and the Hudson Bay Company during the next many years. During this time period, he acquired a variety of languages.
In 1842, he was presented with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity when he met explorer John C. Fremont, who was then a member of the United States Topographical Corps. Carson’s experience as a fur trapper impressed him, and he invited him to accompany him on his travels as a guide.
Carson escorted Fremont on their first journey together through the Oregon Trail to South Pass, Wyoming, in 1842. After the five-month trip was successfully completed, Fremont issued his official papers in which he complimented Carson, establishing Carson as a popular mountain man.
Carson again accompanied Fremont on his second voyage in 1843, guiding him through a section of the Oregon Trail to the Columbia River in Oregon. Carson also escorted Fremont’s third expedition to California and Oregon in 1845. At the conclusion of the third mission, Fremont and Carson both took part in the Bear Flag Revolt, a California insurrection against Mexico, and Fremont worked tirelessly to win California for the United States.
Carson was named federal Indian Agent for northern New Mexico in 1853. When the American Civil War began in 1861, he resigned from his work as an Indian Agent and enlisted as a lieutenant in the Union Army. He was elevated to colonel months later and advanced to brigadier general in 1865. He was brevetted a general and assigned commandant of Ft. Garland, Colorado, upon the war’s conclusion.
His Significant Works
Kit Carson is best recognized for his service as a guide on multiple missions with explorer John C. Fremont. On their first journey together, he was instrumental in guiding the group to the Rocky Mountains’ South Pass. Fremont was so taken with Carson that he took him on two additional voyages. Fremont lavished praise on Carson in his reports, which contributed to Carson’s widespread popularity as a mythical folk hero.
Personal History and Legacies
In the 1830s, Kit Carson married an Arapaho woman named Watanabe. She was a lovely young lady who attracted numerous admirers, and Carson was forced to fight a duel with her fellow suitors in order to gain her hand in marriage. The couple was blessed with a daughter. Unfortunately, his wife died after the delivery of their second child.
In 1841, he married Making-Out-Road, a Cheyenne lady. However, this marriage was short-lived and ended in divorce.
In 1843, he married Josefa Jaramillo, the daughter of a prosperous and distinguished Mexican couple. They were the parents of eight children.
Kit Carson achieved folk hero status as a result of the thrilling and daring events he encountered while working as a guide on Fremont’s missions. Several novels were created that exaggerated his exploits, and he became the protagonist of numerous fictional works, not just in the United States, but throughout the world.
His wife died of complications following the birth of their ninth child in April 1868. He was crushed by her death, and his health rapidly deteriorated in the days that followed. On May 23, 1868, he died of an abdominal aortic aneurysm.
Estimated Net worth
The kit is one of the wealthiest War Heroes and is among the most popular War Heroes. Kit Carson’s net worth is estimated to be $1.5 million, based on our analysis of Wikipedia, Forbes, and Business Insider.