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John Charles Frémont

John Charles Frémont
Artist
William Smith Jewett, 6 Aug 1812 - 3 Dec 1873
Sitter
John Charles Frémont, 21 Jan 1813 - 13 Jul 1890
Type
Painting
Medium
Oil on canvas
Dimensions
37.8 x 28cm (14 7/8 x 11")
Frame: 47.6 x 38.4 x 5.1cm (18 3/4 x 15 1/8 x 2")
Topic
Costume\Headgear\Hat
Exterior\Landscape
Personal Attribute\Facial Hair\Mustache
Costume\Jewelry\Chain
Personal Attribute\Facial Hair\Beard
Costume\Dress Accessory\Sash
Nature & Environment\Mountain
John Charles Frémont: Male
John Charles Frémont: Politics and Government\Presidential candidate
John Charles Frémont: Natural Resource Occupations\Explorer
John Charles Frémont: Military and Intelligence\Army\Officer\Civil War\Union Army
John Charles Frémont: Politics and Government\US Senator\California
John Charles Frémont: Politics and Government\Governor\California
John Charles Frémont: Military and Intelligence\Army\Officer\Major General
Portrait
Credit Line
National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution
Restrictions & Rights
CC0
Object number
NPG.72.17
Exhibition Label
Born Savannah, Georgia
As a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army Corps of Topographical Engineers, John C. Frémont made many explorations of routes to the Pacific. In 1841, he married Jessie Benton, the daughter of Missouri Senator Thomas Hart Benton, forging a powerful alliance. With Jessie Benton Frémont often acting as an uncredited coauthor, Frémont published numerous popular accounts of his western expeditions.
In 1846, Frémont fought in the Bear Flag Revolt in Sacramento Valley against Mexican authorities, an act of insubordination that led to his dismissal. Yet in 1849, Frémont was elected California’s first senator. He made an unsuccessful bid for president as the Republican Party’s first candidate in 1856, running on an antislavery platform. During the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln appointed him major general in command of the Department of the West. After Frémont issued an unauthorized decree in August 1861 emancipating Missouri’s enslaved people, Lincoln relieved him of his command.
Nacido en Savannah, Georgia
Como segundo teniente del Cuerpo de Ingenieros Topográficos del Ejército de EE.UU., John C. Frémont exploró extensamente rutas hacia el Pacífico. En 1841 se casó con Jessie Benton, hija de Thomas Hart Benton, senador de Misuri, consolidando una poderosa unión. Publicó numerosas crónicas populares de sus viajes al oeste, a menudo con su esposa como coautora anónima.
En 1846, Frémont participó en la Rebelión de la Bandera del Oso en el valle de Sacramento contra las autoridades mexicanas, insubordinación que causó su despido. No obstante, en 1849 fue elegido primer senador de California. Se postuló sin éxito a la presidencia en 1856 como primer candidato del Partido Republicano, con una plataforma antiesclavista. Durante la Guerra Civil, Abraham Lincoln lo nombró mayor general al mando del Departamento del Oeste, pero cuando emitió sin autorización en agosto de 1861 un decreto que daba la libertad a las personas esclavizadas en Misuri, Lincoln lo relevó de su puesto.
Provenance
(Kennedy Galleries, Inc., New York); purchased 1972 NPG.
Data Source
National Portrait Gallery
Exhibition
Out of Many: Portraits from 1600 to 1900
On View
NPG, East Gallery 122