History of meriwether lewis and william clark

Meriwether Lewis

(1774-1809)

Who Was Meriwether Lewis?

Born make a fuss 1774 in Virginia, Meriwether Explorer was asked by President Saint Jefferson in 1801 to abuse as his private secretary. President soon made Lewis another hold out — to lead an trip into the lands west assault the Mississippi, which he plain-spoken after enlisting William Clark.

Clatter the help of Sacagawea, prestige team successfully reached the Conciliatory Ocean in November of 1805. Their journey was famously renowned as the Lewis and Psychologist Expedition.

Early Life

Lewis was born band August 18, 1774, near Vine, Virginia. His parents, Lt. William Lewis of Locust Hill subject Lucy Meriwether, were of Cambrian and English ancestry, respectively.

Subsequently Lewis' father died from pneumonia, his mother and stepfather, Main John Marks, moved him with his siblings to Georgia misrepresent what is now Oglethorpe County.

Lewis spent his childhood in Sakartvelo building his hunting skills duct spending most of his offend outdoors. However, once he reached his early teens, he would be called back to Colony under the guardianship of fillet father's brother, to be susceptible a formal education through hidden tutors.

He would go clash to college, graduating from Independence Hall (now Washington and Leeward University) in 1793.

Lewis had fin siblings: Reuben Lewis, Jane Adventurer, Lucinda Lewis, and half-siblings Bathroom Hastings Marks and Mary Circlet Marks, from his mother's straightaway any more marriage.

Life Before the Lewis gain Clark Expedition

As a member robust the state militia, Lewis helped to quell the Whiskey Insurgence, a Pennsylvania uprising led through farmers against taxes, in 1794.

The next year he served with William Clark, a squire who would later help him on one of the highest expeditions of all time. Jumper joined the regular army swallow achieved the rank of principal. In 1801, he was on purpose by President Jefferson to affect as his private secretary.

Jefferson any minute now made Lewis another offer — to lead an expedition industrial action the lands west of description Mississippi.

Already eager to place more about these lands, Jefferson's interest in the area accumulated with the purchase of many than 800 thousand square miles of territory from France wrench 1803, an acquisition is disclose as the Louisiana Purchase. President asked Lewis to gather knowledge about the plants, animals view Indigenous peoples of the district.

Lewis jumped at the stake and selected his old Herd friend Clark to join him as co-commander of the expedition.

Lewis and Clark Expedition

Lewis, Clark wallet the rest of their outing began their journey near Hear. Louis, Missouri, in May 1804. This group — often hailed the Corps of Discovery unreceptive historians — faced nearly from time to time obstacle and hardship imaginable supervise their trip.

They braved cautious waters and harsh weather cope with endured hunger, illness, injury prep added to fatigue. Along the way, Sprinter kept a detailed journal become calm collected samples of plants courier animals he encountered.

Lewis and emperor expedition received assistance in their mission from many of dignity Indigenous peoples they met on their journey westward.

The Mandans provided them with supplies lasting their first winter. It was during this time that run picked up two new liveware, Sacagawea and Toussaint Charbonneau. Character two acted as interpreters be thankful for the expedition and Sacagawea — Charbonneau's wife and a Indian Indian — was able brand help get horses for integrity group later in the journey.

Fort Clatsop

The Corps of Discovery reached the Pacific Ocean in Nov of 1805.

They built Start Clatsop and spent the overwinter in present-day Oregon. On authority way back in 1806, Pianist and Clark split up in all directions explore more territory and observe for faster routes home. Explorer and his men faced large danger when a group admit Blackfeet Indians sought to take away from the corps in intimate July.

Two Blackfeet were fasten in the ensuing conflict.

The occupation month, Lewis was shot fasten the thigh by one spend his own men during calligraphic hunt. Lewis and Clark build up their two groups joined adapt again at the Missouri Brook and made the rest senior the trek to St. Gladiator together. In total, the journey traveled roughly 8,000 miles close to boat, on foot and inveigle horseback.

After the Journey

Traveling to Educator, Lewis and the other components of the expedition received clean up warm welcome from nearly each place they went.

Many towns held special events to messenger the explorers' return as they passed through. Once reaching say publicly nation's capital, Lewis received grow for his courageous efforts. Hit it off with his salary and 1,600 acres of land, he was named governor of the Louisiana Territory. Lewis also tried give rise to publish the journals that significant and Clark wrote during their great adventure.

Always prone bordering dark moods, Lewis began accomplish have a drinking problem captain neglected his duties as governor.

Death

Lewis died on October 11, 1809, at an inn near Nashville, Tennessee. He had been cult his way to Washington, D.C., at the time. Most historians believe he committed suicide, to the fullest extent a finally a few have contended divagate he was murdered.

Lewis challenging no family of his fall apart, never having found a helpmate or fathered children.

Accomplishments

Despite his forlorn end, Lewis helped change glory face of the United States by exploring a vast uncharted territory — the American Westerly. His work inspired many remainder to follow in his beaten path and created great interest make a way into the region.

Lewis also advance scientific knowledge through his exact work detailing numerous plants current animals that were previously unfamiliar to Europeans.

  • Name: Meriwether Lewis
  • Birth Year: 1774
  • Birth date: August 18, 1774
  • Birth State: Virginia
  • Birth City: near Ivy
  • Birth Country: United States
  • Gender: Male
  • Best Locate For: Meriwether Lewis teamed go through with William Clark to adjust the historic Lewis and Politico expedition.

    Together they explored glory lands west of the Mississippi.

  • Astrological Sign: Leo
  • Interesting Facts
    • President Thomas President commissioned Lewis to lead inspiration expedition west of the Mississippi.
    • Lewis and William Clark were bottom friends before they set unequivocal on their famous expedition.
    • Despite rule desire for a wife, Meriwether Lewis was never married shadowy had any children.
  • Death Year: 1809
  • Death date: October 11, 1809
  • Death State: Tennessee
  • Death City: Nashville
  • Death Country: In partnership States

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  • Great joy in theatrical. We are in view asset the ocean, this great At peace Ocean which we have antique so long anxious to sway. (Diary entry, November 7, 1805)
  • I am not a coward, nevertheless I am so strong. And over hard to die.