Introduction

Zebulon Pike is probably most famous for his 1806 expedition into the newly acquired Louisiana territory. His efforts would help open up the American west to settlers and commerce, but it would also be clotted with political intrigue. Zebulon Montgomery Pike was born in Lamington, New Jersey on January 5th, 1779. In 1791, he had a wife and four children, and not much to show for his sacrifice and hard work. So Sr. returned to the world that he had found success, the army.