Pirate (steamboat)
Encyclopedia
The Steamboat Pirate was an early American expeditionary supply vessel that sank on the Missouri River
near what is now Bellevue, Nebraska
in April 1839 after snagging. The sinking of the steamboat
was witnessed by Pierre-Jean De Smet
and lamented by Joseph N. Nicollet, who was depending on its supplies for his expedition. The Pirate was also carrying American Fur Company
supplies for Potawatomi
Indians displaced from the east, including a village led by Billy Caldwell. De Smet later mapped the location of the wreck.
Missouri River
The Missouri River flows through the central United States, and is a tributary of the Mississippi River. It is the longest river in North America and drains the third largest area, though only the thirteenth largest by discharge. The Missouri's watershed encompasses most of the American Great...
near what is now Bellevue, Nebraska
Bellevue, Nebraska
Bellevue is a city in Sarpy County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 50,137 at the 2010 census. Eight miles south of Omaha, Bellevue is part of the Omaha-Council Bluffs metropolitan area. Originally settled in the 1830s, It was the first state capitol. Bellevue was incorporated in...
in April 1839 after snagging. The sinking of the steamboat
Steamboat
A steamboat or steamship, sometimes called a steamer, is a ship in which the primary method of propulsion is steam power, typically driving propellers or paddlewheels...
was witnessed by Pierre-Jean De Smet
Pierre-Jean De Smet
Pierre-Jean De Smet , also known as Pieter-Jan De Smet, was a Belgian Roman Catholic priest and member of the Society of Jesus , active in missionary work among the Native Americans of the Midwestern United States in the mid-19th century.His extensive travels as a missionary were said to total...
and lamented by Joseph N. Nicollet, who was depending on its supplies for his expedition. The Pirate was also carrying American Fur Company
American Fur Company
The American Fur Company was founded by John Jacob Astor in 1808. The company grew to monopolize the fur trade in the United States by 1830, and became one of the largest businesses in the country. The company was one the first great trusts in American business...
supplies for Potawatomi
Potawatomi
The Potawatomi are a Native American people of the upper Mississippi River region. They traditionally speak the Potawatomi language, a member of the Algonquian family. In the Potawatomi language, they generally call themselves Bodéwadmi, a name that means "keepers of the fire" and that was applied...
Indians displaced from the east, including a village led by Billy Caldwell. De Smet later mapped the location of the wreck.