Charles Gratiot
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Charles Gratiot, Jr. (August 29, 1786 – May 18, 1855) was born in St. Louis, Missouri. He was the son of Charles Gratiot, Sr., a fur trader in the Illinois country during the American Revolution, and Victoire Chouteau, who was from an important mercantile family.
President Thomas Jefferson appointed him cadet in 1804. He graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1806 and was commissioned in the Corps of Engineers. He became a captain in 1808 and assisted Alexander Macomb in constructing fortifications in Charleston, South Carolina. He was post commander of West Point in 1810-1811. He distinguished himself as General William Henry Harrison's Chief Engineer in the War of 1812.
As engineer under Harrison's command, Gratiot built Fort Meigs in 1813 and rebuilt Fort St. Joseph, later renamed Fort Gratiot in his honor. In 1814 he took part in the attack on Fort Mackinac.
He served as Chief Engineer in Michigan Territory (1817-1818), and superintending engineer, construction of Hampton Roads defenses (1819-1828). On May 24, 1828, Gratiot was appointed colonel of engineers, brevet brigadier general, and Chief Engineer. For ten years he administered an expanding program of river, harbor, road, and fortification construction. He also engaged in a lengthy dispute with War Department officials over benefits, and in 1838 President Martin Van Buren dismissed him for failing to repay government funds in his custody.
Gratiot became a clerk in the General Land Office from 1840 – 1855 and died in St. Louis.
M-3 is more commonly known as Gratiot Avenue, and was named in his honor. Gratiot Avenue is a main link between Detroit and Port Huron. Before the interstate highway system was built, it was the main link, other than the railway.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- This article contains public domain text from Colonel Charles Gratiot. Portraits and Profiles of Chief Engineers. Retrieved on May 14, 2005.
- Information about his parents from National Park Service's page on the Lewis and Clark Expedition
| Preceded by Alexander Macomb, Jr. |
Chief of Engineers 1828–1838 |
Succeeded by Joseph Gilbert Totten |
