Category: Portraiture, Union Officer, Political Figure
Date Range: 1861–1864 (Civil War period)
Photograph Type: Carte de Visite (CDV)
Subject: John C. Frémont
Military Rank: Major General, U.S. Army
Uniform Details: Double-breasted frock coat, shoulder boards (major general), sash and sword
Pose: Standing, hand on sword, formal portrait
Studio Props: Pedestal with draped cloth
Location: Likely a Northern studio (New York, D.C., or St. Louis probable)
Historical Notes: Frémont was a controversial Union general, known for early emancipation efforts in Missouri and his 1856 presidential candidacy.
Related Tags: Republican Party, Missouri Campaign, Emancipation Proclamation, Western Theater
Historical Context: John C. Frémont
John C. Frémont (1813–1890) was a Union major general, explorer, and politician. A famed pathfinder of the American West, he became the first Republican presidential candidate in 1856. During the Civil War, he was given command of the Department of the West but was relieved of duty after controversially declaring martial law and emancipating slaves in Missouri without Lincoln’s approval. His legacy remains tied to early abolitionist efforts and westward expansion.
Learn More About John C. Frémont
- Chapter 107: John Frémont’s First Expedition Reaches the South Pass
- Chapter 108: Frémont’s Second Expedition Explores the West Coast
- Chapter 209: The Republicans Nominate Abraham Lincoln
- Chapter 252: James Buchanan Becomes America’s Fifteenth President