John Colter
Colter, John (1775?–1813), a United States trapper and explorer. He was born in Virginia. In 1803 Colter joined the Lewis and Clark expedition. He left the expedition on its return trip in 1806 and joined the party of Manuel Lisa, a fur trapper. When the group reached Montana in 1807, Lisa sent Colter, alone, on an exploring trip, during which he is believed to have reached the area now occupied by Yellowstone National Park. He returned in 1810 and settled in Missouri.