Born near Montreal, he began his career as a canoeman, was hired by John Jacob Astor and shipped to the Oregon Country aboard the Tonquin, entering the mouth of the Columbia River on May 9, 1812.
He took part in notable fur gathering-trading expeditions throughout the upper Rockies and was an occasional interpreter, sometimes second in command of brigades, and clerk.
He was stationed at old Fort Boise (near present-day Parma) for his last years with the company, retiring June 1, 1844.
The second is the account of George Goodhart, who claims he died in Idaho, either in 1854 or 1855 and was buried in the area now known as Washoe, looking over the Snake and Payette rivers.
In southwestern Idaho, a river,[3] lake, county, city, and a national forest are named for him.