Edward Rose

Edward Rose (b. circa 1780-1788, d. 1833) was an early American explorer, trapper, guide and interpreter. During his life, Rose alternated between residing with Native American tribes and working on behalf of commercial fur trapping expeditions funded by Eastern companies. His position at the intersection of these cultures made him a sought-after facilitator of communication and exchange of goods.

Early life Much of Rose's early life is obscure, but it is known that "he was a half breed" and "his color was not far from that of the savage; black hair, changeable eyes, and a fiendish expression of countenance, when he chose it, with a little paint, gave him the appearance of a natural born Indian." Historians believe that he worked along parts of the Mississippi River, ranging between Illinois and New Orleans, and that when he was young, he lived among the Crow Indians, adopting their heritage, language, religions, and customs. He grew up near Louisville, Kentucky.

As a young man, Rose travelled to the city of New Orleans while working as a keelboat deckhand. By the time he reached the age of eighteen, he was known to have participated in robberies and fights in the city

The scars and visible signs of his brawling inspired the Crow to call him Nez Coupé, or "Cut Nose."

Fur trapping Rose and Manuel Lisa Rose got his first job in the trapping industry in 1807. He was hired as an interpreter for an expedition to the Bighorn River in modern-day Wyoming under the command of American explorer Manuel Lisa. Expedition member John Potts attempted to intervene, but it reportedly took ten or fifteen men to prevent Rose from firing on the fleeing Lisa with a swivel gun. Rose stayed at the camp only to procure more goods to trade, and then returned to the Crow village.

After a days-long trading negotiation with a group of Crows at Crazy Woman Creek ended without success, Hunt suspected Rose had been disloyal and blamed him for the failure. Hunt offered Rose half a year's pay, a horse, three beaver traps, and other goods to leave the expedition.

In the following years, Rose lived in the Omaha village, where he married the chief's daughter. He enjoyed an elevated social standing within the tribe due to his prosperity following the expedition with Hunt. During these years in Omaha village, Rose fathered two children. He became an alcoholic, and, when intoxicated, was known to instigate fights. This eventually caused problems for both the Omaha and the traders, so he was arrested and sent to St. Louis. After his release, Rose travelled back to New Orleans, returned to the Crow, and stayed with them for close to ten years.

William Ashley In 1823, Rose was hired again as an interpreter for an expedition led by William Ashley to the Rocky Mountains. During the expedition, Ashley's group came into contact with the Arikara Indians. The year prior, two Arikara warriors had been murdered by members of another fur trading company, leading them to distrust Ashley's expedition. For two days, the groups maintained distance and avoided conflict, but when a few members of Ashley's expedition, including Rose, ventured into the Arikara village, a skirmish broke out and one of the trappers was killed. Rose returned to camp and delivered a report to Ashley. Although some among the expedition wanted vengeance, Ashley resolved to wait overnight in the camp. The next morning, Arikara warriors attacked the camp and opened fire on the trappers, killing 15 and wounding 9, forcing the expedition to flee downriver. With these losses, and facing insolvency, the expedition had to be abandoned. As the three men crossed the frozen Yellowstone River, they were attacked by a group of Arikara warriors and killed.