James Pierson “Jim” Beckwourth (c. 1800—1866), also sometimes spelled Beckworth, Beckwith, or similar, was a Black mountain man, fur trader, and US Army Scout who lived and worked in Colorado and Wyoming for much of the early 1800s. He is most notable for his popular autobiography, which was considered unreliable even at the time of publishing. 

As a historical figure, Beckwourth has a mixed legacy. He was famous during his lifetime, but was largely forgotten during the later era of “Wild West” pop culture. Today he is both celebrated as an early Black settler of the west, and maligned for his involvement in the events directly preceding the Sand Creek Massacre.

Early Life

James Beckwourth was born into slavery in Frederick County, Virginia on April 26, circa 1800. His exact birthdate is unknown and disputed. His father was Jennings Beckwith, a planter, and his mother was an unknown enslaved Black woman. Jennings Beckwith was reportedly the son of Sir Marmaduke Beckwith, a member of British peerage who immigrated to Virginia.

Jennings Beckwith relocated to Missouri with James’ mother and all her children. He legally was their owner, but publicly acknowledged that he was the father of the children. Jennings arranged for James to be apprenticed to a blacksmith. In 1824, Jennings freed his son James by manumission.

Career

Early Mountain Man Career

Now spelling his name James Backwourth, he joined General William Ashley’s Rocky Mountain Fur Company. He traveled to the Rocky Mountains in 1824 with the company, where he quickly gained a reputation as a skilled trapper. By 1825, fellow mountain men were spreading rumors that Beckwourth was the son of a Crow chief, which was widely believed because of his coloration and because he, like many early mountain men, had adopted Indigenous dress. 

During his fur trapping career, he spent much of his time living with the Crow Nation in what is now Wyoming. He learned the Crow language, and possibly married a Crow woman. He would later claim he was adopted into the tribe as a member and even became a chief, though both these claims are disputed.

In 1837, Beckwourth left his fur-trapping career to volunteer with the United States Army during the Second Seminole War in Florida. In 1840, he returned to the Rocky Mountains and settled at Fort Vasquez, near modern day Platteville, Colorado. He trapped there for a few years, before moving to Bent’s Fort and then to El Pueblo by 1842. For the remainder of the 1840s, he traveled frequently between Colorado and California, working as a fur trader, scout, and guide for travelers. For a time he operated a store in Sonoma, California, and made money playing cards in Sacramento. In 1850 he is credited with discovering what is now known as Beckwourth Pass, an easy pass through the Sierra Nevada mountains.

Autobiography

In the winter of 1854, Beckwourth worked with journalist Thomas D. Bonner to write his autobiography. They worked on the book, titled The Life and Adventures of James P. Beckwourth, for over a year, and it was published by Harper & Brothers in 1856.

Beckwourth’s autobiography is of great historical significance. Beckwourth was one of the few Black settlers in the American West to record their life story in their own words, and the book provides important insights into mountain man life, Crow life and customs, US military procedures during the Indian Wars, and other topics. However, even at the time it was received with serious skepticism. One editor at the publishing company remarked that “I knew Jim intimately and he was the biggest liar that ever lived.”

Beckwourth claimed in his autobiography that he had been mistaken as the son of a Crow chief by the Crow themselves, and was adopted into the tribe, married two Crow women (one of whom was the daughter of a chief), and rose to the rank of chief. He also claimed to be the leader of the “Dog Clan” and eventually ascended to be the highest-ranking war chief of the Crow people. All of these claims are disputed. He also falsely depicted his participation in the Seminole Wars, claiming he was a scout and combatant when in reality he was a contracted civilian baggage train worker. 

Military Scout

In the 1860s, Beckwourth returned to Colorado permanently, settling in Denver. He worked as a storekeeper and was appointed as an Indian agent by the state government. He also began taking work as a hired scout for the US Army.

In 1864, he was hired by Colonel John Chivington to help lead the 3rd Colorado Cavalry Regiment south from Denver to Fort Lyon. As part of this campaign, Chivington and his men perpetrated the Sand Creek Massacre, in which they slaughtered over two hundred Cheyenne and Arapaho people who were peacefully encamped outside the fort. While Beckwourth did not participate in the massacre, for his involvement in guiding the regiment to Sand Creek he was called as a witness in Chivington’s later court martial.

In 1866, Beckwourth was hired again to serve as a military scout, this time by the commanders of Fort Laramie and Fort Phil Kearny in the Wyoming Territory. While guiding a military column into Montana, he complained of headaches and severe nosebleeds. He took refuge in a nearby Crow village, where he soon died of unknown causes.

Legacy

Despite his fame in life and the popularity of his autobiography, after his death Beckwourth was rarely recalled in popular culture. This was very much unlike other contemporary “frontier men”, many of whom he knew, such as Jim Bridger, Kit Carson, Hugh Glass, and William Bent. Additionally, the “tall tales” he told about his life were often dismissed immediately, unlike similarly tall tales regarding his contemporaries, likely because of his race.

During the Civil Rights era, Beckwourth became celebrated as an early Black pioneer. He has since been featured more prominently in popular media. A fictionalized version of Beckwourth appeared as a quickdraw gunslinger in the 2021 film The Harder They Fall, played by R.J. Cyler.

In recent decades, Beckwourth’s reputation has come under greater scrutiny due to his involvement in the Salt Creek Massacre. As such, his legacy in American history is complicated and continues to be debated.