Solomon Juneau

Solomon Juneau (1793-1856) is considered the founder of Milwaukee. He was a French-Canadian fur trader who settled with his Metis wife on the Milwaukee River near Lake Michigan in 1818, establishing a post there when the area was still wilderness. He put his business skills to work in developing the village of Milwaukee, and was for many years one of its leading citizens. He served as mayor of Milwaukee from 1846 to 1847 and was also the town’s first postmaster.