John Collins Archives - Lewis & Clark Research Database https://research.lewisandclarktrust.org/key-figure/john-collins/ A digital archive of treaties, documents, artwork, and 360° trail panoramas from the Corps of Discovery Tue, 10 Feb 2026 17:42:22 +0000 en-US hourly 1 John Collins https://research.lewisandclarktrust.org/research/john-collins/ Tue, 10 Feb 2026 17:42:22 +0000 https://research.lewisandclarktrust.org/research/john-collins/ Born in Maryland, Collins was a reliable hunter ranked in the top five of the Corps. He was court-martialed and received 100 lashes for tapping the expedition's whiskey barrel. Believed killed by Arikara warriors in 1823 during the Ashley-Henry fur trading expedition.

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]]> John Collins (c. 1775-c. 1823) was one of the more colorful members of the Corps of Discovery, known both for disciplinary troubles and for his skills as a hunter. He was court-martialed twice during the early weeks of the expedition — once for being drunk on duty and once for tapping the whiskey barrel.

Despite these early infractions, Collins proved to be a capable soldier and hunter for the remainder of the journey. His ability to brew beer from camas roots during the stay with the Nez Perce was noted with appreciation by his fellow soldiers.

Collins is believed to have been killed in 1823 during a Arikara attack on William Ashley’s fur trading party near the Grand River — one of several expedition veterans who died in the dangerous fur trade on the upper Missouri.

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