Jean-Baptiste Charbonneau

How are you related to Jean-Baptiste Charbonneau?

Connect to the World Family Tree to find out

Share your family tree and photos with the people you know and love

  • Build your family tree online
  • Share photos and videos
  • Smart Matching™ technology
  • Free!

Jean-Baptiste Charbonneau

Also Known As: "J B "Pompey" Charbonneau", ""POMP"", "'POMP'"
Birthdate:
Birthplace: Fort Mandan, North Dakota
Death: May 16, 1866 (61)
Danner, Oregon, United States (Pneumonia)
Place of Burial: Danner, Jordan Valley, Oregon
Immediate Family:

Biological son of Toussaint Charbonneau and Sacajawea "Bird Woman"
Adopted son of William Clark
Husband of Charlotte Dumont Charbonneau
Brother of Lissette Charbonneau and Ticannaf Charbonneau Comanche Indian
Half brother of Basil Charbonneau; Tess Charbonneau; Toussaint Charbonneau and Louis Napoleon Charbonneau, SR

Occupation: Born on the Lewis & Clark expedition
Label: Born on trail with Lewis & Clark, lived with and was education paid for by Clark
Managed by: Ruth Lahoe (Buggzy)
Last Updated:

About Jean-Baptiste Charbonneau

They called Jean-Baptiste "Pompey" which meant "Little Chief". Pompey was sent to Europe to be educated as he had been promised by Captain Clark. It is said he fathered a child in Europe but the child died as a infant.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_Baptiste_Charbonneau

Jean Baptiste Charbonneau (February 11, 1805 – May 16, 1866) was an American explorer, guide, fur trapper trader, military scout during the Mexican-American War, alcalde (mayor) of Mission San Luis Rey de Francia, and a gold prospector and hotel operator in Northern California. He spoke French and English, and learned German and Spanish during his six years in Europe from 1823 to 1829. He also spoke Shoshone and other western American Indian languages, which he picked up during his years of trapping and guiding.

Jean Baptiste was the son of Sacagawea, a Shoshone, and her Metis French-Canadian husband Toussaint Charbonneau, who worked as a trapper and interpreter for the Lewis and Clark Expedition; he was born at Fort Mandan in North Dakota. He was taken by his parents as an infant across the country. The Expedition co-leader William Clark nicknamed the boy Pomp. He lived with Clark in St. Louis, Missouri as a boy, where he attended St. Louis Academy. Clark paid for his education. Sacagawea and Toussaint Charbonneau also had a second child, a daughter named Lizette Charbonneau who, as there is no later record of her among William Clark's papers, is believed to have died in childhood.

Charbonneau's image appears with that of his mother on the United States Sacagawea dollar bronze one dollar coin. He is the 2nd child depicted on United States currency. Pompeys Pillar on the Yellowstone River in Montana and the community of Charbonneau, Oregon are named for him.

view all

Jean-Baptiste Charbonneau's Timeline

1805
February 11, 1805
Fort Mandan, North Dakota
1866
May 16, 1866
Age 61
Danner, Oregon, United States
????
Danner, Jordan Valley, Oregon