More Information on Pierre Chouteau, Jr.

Pierre Chouteau Jr. (1788-1865) was born in St. Louis and inherited an important position in the western fur trade. As the second son of a prominent man, Pierre Chouteau, Sr., he was often called by the French nichname "Cadet." He was at different times in partnership with John Jacob Astor, Bernard Pratte, Jr. and Bartholomew Berthold. Pierre Chouteau, Jr. assisted early scientific expeditions to the West and was active in early railroad and iron manufacturing projects. Throughout his life he wrote letters in French rather than English, although he could read, write and speak both languages fluently. He married his cousin, Emilie Ann Gratiot, on June 13, 1813 (see Block 32). They had five children, three of whom lived to adulthood. Chouteau was a ruthless businessman who tried to operate from within his extended family and exclude the business interests of others. He consolidated the family's place in the fur trade of the 1820s to 40s by an alliance with John Jacob Astor's American Fur Company. He curtailed trapping beaver hides after silk hats came to prominence about 1840 and switched to obtaining and selling buffalo hides. Pierre Chouteau, Jr. died in St. Louis in 1865.