Charles Chouteau Gratiot (August 29, 1786 – May 18, 1855) was born in St.
Louis, Spanish Upper Louisiana Territory, now the present-day State of Missouri.
He was the son of Charles Gratiot, Sr., a fur trader in the Illinois country during the American Revolution, and Victoire Chouteau, who was from an important mercantile family.
His father became a wealthy merchant, during the early years of St.
Louis.
After 1796, Charles was raised in the large stone house purchased by his father in St.