Keywords

Robert Campbell, mountain men, rendezvous, Fort Laramie, Fort William, fur trade

Abstract

Between 1825 and 1835 Robert Campbell emerged as a fur trade entrepreneur. Campbell served as clerk for Ashley-Smith, as brigade leader for Smith, Jackson, and Sublette, and supplier and financier for the Rocky Mountain Fur Company. Campbell quickly became a dominant figure in the American fur trade. In addition to leading fur brigades, Campbell and his partner William Sublette built several trading posts (most notably Fort Laramie), supplied the annual rendezvous, and challenged John Jacob Astor's American Fur Company on the Missouri River. Through it all, Campbell's business acumen helped him pursue economic opportunities that paved the way for future financial success as a Missouri businessman.

Original Publication Citation

Buckley, Jay H. “Rocky Mountain Entrepreneur: Robert Campbell as a Fur Trade Capitalist.” Annals of Wyoming: The Wyoming History Journal 75, no. 3 (Summer 2003): 8-21.

Document Type

Peer-Reviewed Article

Publication Date

2003

Publisher

Annals of Wyoming

Language

English

College

Family, Home, and Social Sciences

Department

History

University Standing at Time of Publication

Assistant Professor

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