Born and schooled in Lausanne Switzerland moved to London at the age of 17 then to Montreal to live with his uncle and work in the fur-trade business. Ran his own prosperous trading business after moving to St. Louis in 1781. Ultimately he expanded his business to include a tannery and distillery. He married Victoria Chouteau, step-sister of Auguste Chouteau. They had 13 children four of whom died in infancy. Gratiot was a personal friend and business associate of John Jacob Astor. Charles Gratiot hosted William Clark during an official visit to St. Louis in 1795 for the U.S. Army. He also acted as a translator for Meriwether Lewis in 1803-04 and witnessed his dealings with the Spanish Governor, Charles Dehault Delassus, Gratiot conducted the official transfer of the Louisiana Purchase territory from France to the US in March 1804 on his portico in St. Louis. He was the first presiding justice of the Court of St. Louis, and later was elected to the Board of Trustees for the incorporated town. His wife Victoria is laid to rest next to him.
Born and schooled in Lausanne Switzerland moved to London at the age of 17 then to Montreal to live with his uncle and work in the fur-trade business. Ran his own prosperous trading business after moving to St. Louis in 1781. Ultimately he expanded his business to include a tannery and distillery. He married Victoria Chouteau, step-sister of Auguste Chouteau. They had 13 children four of whom died in infancy. Gratiot was a personal friend and business associate of John Jacob Astor. Charles Gratiot hosted William Clark during an official visit to St. Louis in 1795 for the U.S. Army. He also acted as a translator for Meriwether Lewis in 1803-04 and witnessed his dealings with the Spanish Governor, Charles Dehault Delassus, Gratiot conducted the official transfer of the Louisiana Purchase territory from France to the US in March 1804 on his portico in St. Louis. He was the first presiding justice of the Court of St. Louis, and later was elected to the Board of Trustees for the incorporated town. His wife Victoria is laid to rest next to him.
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