Coming out of the gate, Frémont had two serious problems, as far as most Americans were concerned: he was for abolition ... ; and his heritage was questionable." Opponents claimed that he wasn't American but had been born in Canada. (These opponents were nineteenth-century precursors of the "birther movement," which professed that Barack Obama was really born in Kenya.")

I have just finished reading Kenneth C Davis' A Nation Rising and found within an interesting passage. When describing John C. Frémont's 1856 presidential campaign, Davis writes the following:



Davis goes on to report other myths spread by Frémont's Know-Nothing opponents including allegations of criminal misconduct and claims that he was a Catholic.

His father was a French immigrant hired to tutor the young wife of elderly Revolutionary War veteran. However, teacher and student absconded together. John Frémont was the result of this coupling. His opponents did make frequent reference to his being illegitimate, it seems.