American Pioneer. He was the co-founder of the city of St. Louis, Missouri. Born in New Orleans, Rene Auguste Chouteau was the son of Marie Chouteau and the step-son of Pierre Laclede. In 1763, Laclede received a contract to trade with the Native Americans on the west side of the Mississippi River. Chouteau, and his younger brother Pierre, accompanied Laclede to the area. They selected a spot on the western bank for their trading station and named it St. Louis. After Laclede's death in 1778, August continued Laclede's fur-trading business and expanded it. By 1794, Chouteau enjoyed a monopoly on the trade with the Osage tribe. He also helped finance most of the other individuals and companies involved in the fur traffic of the Louisiana Territory. After the Louisiana Territory was sold to the United States in 1803, Chouteau was appointed one of the three justices of the first territorial court. Lewis and Clark reported meeting the Chouteaus and stayed for a time with Pierre. Chouteau was the political patron of Senator Thomas Hart Benton, who built his early career championing the legal interests--especially land claims--of well-to-do conservative French St. Louisans. During the remainder of his life, Chouteau held a number of public offices, but his primary interest always was his business, which continued to prosper. At his death Chouteau was the wealthiest citizen in St. Louis and the town's largest landowner. Chouteau was originally buried in downtown St. Louis. His body was later moved to Calvary Cemetery.
American Pioneer. He was the co-founder of the city of St. Louis, Missouri. Born in New Orleans, Rene Auguste Chouteau was the son of Marie Chouteau and the step-son of Pierre Laclede. In 1763, Laclede received a contract to trade with the Native Americans on the west side of the Mississippi River. Chouteau, and his younger brother Pierre, accompanied Laclede to the area. They selected a spot on the western bank for their trading station and named it St. Louis. After Laclede's death in 1778, August continued Laclede's fur-trading business and expanded it. By 1794, Chouteau enjoyed a monopoly on the trade with the Osage tribe. He also helped finance most of the other individuals and companies involved in the fur traffic of the Louisiana Territory. After the Louisiana Territory was sold to the United States in 1803, Chouteau was appointed one of the three justices of the first territorial court. Lewis and Clark reported meeting the Chouteaus and stayed for a time with Pierre. Chouteau was the political patron of Senator Thomas Hart Benton, who built his early career championing the legal interests--especially land claims--of well-to-do conservative French St. Louisans. During the remainder of his life, Chouteau held a number of public offices, but his primary interest always was his business, which continued to prosper. At his death Chouteau was the wealthiest citizen in St. Louis and the town's largest landowner. Chouteau was originally buried in downtown St. Louis. His body was later moved to Calvary Cemetery.
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