PETER SKENE OGDEN'S JOURNAL OF HIS EXPEDITION T O U T A H , 1825 EDITED BY DAVID E. MILLER*
INTRODUCTION JL ETER SKENE OGDEN was one of the most widely traveled trapper-explorers to enter the Far W e s t in the first half of the nineteenth century. During the six-year period from 1824-1830 he headed five Snake Country brigades on extensive expeditions into the territory that now comprises the states of Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada, Utah, Idaho, and Montana. It is probably accurate to say that no other man led larger expeditions farther over more unexplored territory or brought in more furs than he did during these active years. He may well have outtraveled Jedediah Smith. Although a Canadian by birth, Peter Skene Ogden was a descendant of early American ancestors. At the time of the American Revolution the Ogden family was divided in its loyalty, part supporting the American struggle for independence, part remaining loyal to Great Britain. At the end of the war British loyalists of the family moved to Canada where Peter was born at Quebec in 1794. Although it was the desire of his family that he follow the profession of law, as his father and grandfather had done, Peter chose a more adventurous life. At the age of seventeen he joined the Northwest Fur Company, a British concern, and remained in its employ until 1821 when that company was merged with Hudson's Bay Company. While employed by the Northwest Company, Ogden rose rapidly, being advanced to "partnership" after only nine years service. During that time he proved his ability as a leader in the rough competition between his firm and the Hudson's Bay Company. Evidently because of his energetic hostility to the rival company, Ogden found himself without a job at the time of the merger *Dr. Miller is associate professor of history at the University of Utah, and is recognized as an authority on the Great Salt Lake and other phases of Utah history. He wishes to express appreciation to the University of Utah Research Committee for a grant of funds for research incident to the preparation of this article.
