Legal judgment involving John C. Fremont

John Charles Fremont (1/21/1813 - 7/13/1890) was an American explorer, politican, and soldier that became famous for being the one of the first two Senators from California and the first Republican candidate for the United States Presidency in the 1856 election.

Fremont led several expeditions into the American west and as a Major in the Army during the Mexican-American War, breifly took control over the California territory as military governor, though that ended in controversy. He then settled in California and led another expedition to find a rail passage over the mountains in 1849, later discovering gold in his Mariposa ranch and eventually entered politics.

The legal judgment found in this collection is one of many lawsuits endured by Fremont during this period. After the Mexican-American War and the 1849 gold rush, there were many claims to land and territory, as well as property such as cattle for which Fremont was a target. His assets remained his, however, as he won his appeals through the United States Supreme Court.

During the Civil War, President Lincoln appointed Fremont to the position of Commander of the Western Armies, though that tenure was short lived and he was relieved due to insubordination. He then continued his exploration and ranching ventures and ran into financial troubles with the purchase of the Transpacific Railroad, founding the Southwest Pacific Railroad after reorganizing its assets and failing to pay his second installment and letting it get reposessed by the state.

President Hayes appointed Fremont governor of the Arizona Territory in 1878, but that too was not long endured as he was given a choice to resume duties or resign, to which he chose resignation and retirement in New York. After financial hardships and retirement in the east, Fremont passed away in 1890 at the age of 77.