What are facts about John Gunnison?

John Gunnison was an American explorer and surveyor known for his work in the western United States during the mid-19th century. He led the Gunnison Expedition in 1853 to survey a potential route for a transcontinental railroad through the Rocky Mountains. Tragically, Gunnison was killed by Ute Native Americans in 1853, and the area of Gunnison, Colorado, is named in his honor. His contributions to mapping and understanding the geography of the West were significant during a time of westward expansion.