Research topic: John Ledyard

John Ledyard , 1751-89, American adventurer, b. Groton, Conn. He studied at Dartmouth for year, but left college to ship as a sailor. In 1776 he joined Capt. James Cook 's last expedition. Having seen the Pacific Northwest and traded for furs there, he was fired with a desire to establish a post in the region. Though Cook had not found the fabled Northwest Passage , Ledyard was convinced that a practicable route could be found. Failing to obtain support in America for his scheme for an exploratory expedition, he went to France. There he was encouraged by Thomas Jefferson and John Paul Jones,... Read more