James "Jim" Bridger was a famous mountain man. He was born on March 17, 1804 and died July 17, 1880. He got married three times, and all of them were to Native Americans. When he joined General Ashley 's expedition he was seventeen years old , the youngest member. Most of the other members with him called him Old Gabe or Blanket Chief. At the age of thirteen he became a blacksmith apprentice. When trapping he established Fort Bridger and discovered the Great Salt Lake. He also discovered the Yellowstone geysers although no one believed him at the time. He was born in Richmond, Virginia on a small farm. He trapped in Utah for forty-five years. He formed lots of trading posts with Native Americans. Jim became a scout for the army. He helped form