William Becknell

William Becknell (1787 or 1788 – April 30, 1865) is an American soldier, politician, and freight operator who is credited with opening the Santa Fe Trail in 1821, which becomes an early major transportation route through central North America that connects Independence, Missouri with Santa Fe, New Mexico.

It serves as a vital commercial highway until the introduction of the railroad to Santa Fe in 1880.

Becknell had used long-established trails made by Native Americans and Spanish and French colonial explorers and traders for years before his trip.

French colonists in St. Louis had had a monopoly on trade with Santa Fe, which was granted by the Spanish crown before the Louisiana Purchase.

When Mexico achieves independence from Spain in 1821, it opens up trade to its territories; residents of Santa Fe are eager for more trade goods.

In 1822, Becknell alters his route to Santa Fe in order to find a trail more suitable for wagon trains so that he can enable transport of more trade goods.

Earlier travelers had ridden on horseback trailing packhorses.

By 1825, he is assisting a surveyor with the federal government in mapping the trail to make it available for commercial and military use.

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