Bio
Jean-Pierre Chouteau (1758–1849) was a significant French Creole fur trader, merchant, politician, and slaveholder, renowned for his influence in St. Louis. Born in New Orleans, he was the son of Pierre de Laclède, a notable fur trader. After moving to St. Louis, Chouteau married Pélagie Kiercereau and had four children, including Auguste P. Chouteau and Pierre Chouteau Jr., who continued the family’s fur trading legacy. Following Pélagie’s death, he married Brigitte Saucier, with whom he had five more children.
Chouteau played a pivotal role in establishing the fur trade in St. Louis, forming alliances with the Osage Indians and learning their language and customs. In 1796, he founded a trading post that marked the first permanent European settlement in what is now Salina, Oklahoma. He became the U.S. Agent for Indian Affairs west of the Mississippi River in 1804, founding the Missouri Fur Company, which solidified his regional wealth and power.
Chouteau was also involved in legal battles concerning slavery, notably when his enslaved person, Marguerite Scypion, filed a freedom suit in 1825, leading to a landmark decision that effectively ended Indian slavery in Missouri. He maintained political influence throughout his life and was elected to various local offices. Chouteau died at the age of 90, leaving behind a legacy of economic and political significance in the American West.
