William A. Becknell, Sr.

William Becknell (1787 or 1788–30 April 1865) was a soldier, politician, and freight operator who is credited with opening the Santa Fe Trail in 1821 and improving the route. But, he was often using long-established trails made by Native Americans and followed by Spanish and French colonial explorers and traders for years before his trip.

French colonists in St. Louis had a monopoly on trade with Santa Fe granted by the Spanish rulers before the Louisiana Purchase by the United States. When Mexico achieved independence from Spain in 1821, it opened up trade to its territories; residents of Santa Fe were eager for more trade goods.

In 1822 Becknell altered his route to Santa Fe in order to find a trail more suitable for wagon trains, and enable transport of more trade goods. Earlier travelers had ridden on horseback trailing packhorses. By 1825, he assisted a surveyor with the federal government in mapping the trail, to make it available for commercial and military use.

• William Becknell at Wikipedia