1855day.year
Giacomo Beltrami
(1779 - 1855)
Italian jurist, explorer, and author
Italian jurist
explorer
and author
Giacomo Beltrami was an Italian explorer and writer who claimed to be the first European to discover the source of the Mississippi River.
Born in 1779 in Bergamo, Beltrami trained as a lawyer before undertaking travels in North America.
In 1823 he navigated the Mississippi to its headwaters at Lake Julia, believing he had pinpointed its source.
His published journal offered vivid accounts of Indigenous cultures and frontier life.
Although geographers later debated his claims, his narrative captivated European audiences.
Beltrami returned to Europe as a celebrated explorer and died in 1855, celebrated for his adventurous spirit.
1855
Giacomo Beltrami