American scout, born in North Carolina. He was employed as a surveyor by the Ohio Company to trace the course of rivers and mark the mountain passes of the northwestern territory. On October 31, 1750, he crossed the mountains, and in 1751 reached the great Miami River. On March 1st of that year Gist descended the river to its union with the Ohio, ascended the valley of the Kentucky River, discovered a pass, and returned home by way of Roanoke. In 1753 Gist settled on a plantation in Pennsylvania, near the Youghiogheny River. At the end of that year he acted as a guide to Washington, who had been sent by Governor Dinwiddie of Virginia to make a journey to Lake Erie. On their return the two were fired on by some Indians, but escaped unhurt. A fort was located where Pittsburg now stands, on the favorable report of the two travelers, which was taken by the French and named Fort Duquesne.
