MERIWETHER LEWIS
Explorer, Soldier, Governor of Louisiana,
Capitan of Discovery Expedition
August 18, 1774 • October 11, 1809
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WILLIAM CLARK
Explorer, Governor of Missouri Territory,
Capitan of Discovery Expedition, Indian Agent
August 1, 1770 • September 1, 1838
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Meriwether Lewis' portrait painted by Charles Willson Peale
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William Clark's portrait painted by Charles Willson Peale
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- Birthplace: Albemarle County, Virginia
- Parents: William Lewis and Lucy Meriwether
- Youth: When thirteen years old, studied under the Rev. Matthew Maury, learning Latin, math and science.This private tutoring continued five years.
- 1794: As a member of the local militia, joined troops in suppressing the Whisky Rebellion.
- May 1, 1795: Enlisted in regular army, commissioned ensign in 2nd Legion. In 1796, was transferred to the 1st Infantry and later, was commissioned lieutenant.
- 1801: Offered the position of Thomas Jefferson's Private Secretary
- December 8, 1801: Jefferson appointed Lewis to appear before the Senate to read his annual message, as was customary for presidents to have someone else read their messages.
- June 30, 1803: President Jefferson began preparing instructions for a lengthy exploration of the western frontier in search of a land route to the Pacific Ocean.
Passports thru French territory were made but soon afterwards, the Louisiana Purchase was settled and passports were not needed in the new addition to the United States. Lewis was asked to choose a companion officer
and he offered the position to William Clark of Louisville.
- Winter of 1803-1804: Expedition begins in Illinois at the mouth of the Missouri River, and to follow the river to its source.
- April 7, 1805: A French-Canadian and his Shoshone wife, Sacajawea join the expedition as guides. Provides horses, canoes.
- September 23, 1806: Expedition returns to St. Louis.
- Marriage: Lewis never married, due to his extremely shy nature.
- Age at Death: 35 years old
- Place of Death: Night of October 11, 1809 died of two gunshot wounds to head and chest at a tavern called Grinder's Stand, about 70 miles
from Nashville, Tennessee, on the Natchez Trace, while en route to Washington, D.C. He was buried next to the tavern, where a memorial has been placed in his memory and honor.
Some report that Lewis took his own life, others claim he was murdered. Nonetheless, his death occurred under suspicious circumstances.
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- Birthplace: Family home in Caroline County, Virginia.
- Parents: John Clark and Ann Rogers.
- Youth: Very little formal education, better trained by observing natural phenomenon. He learned to ride, hunt, survey land, studied habits of wild birds and anaimals, and make maps. He was a frontiersman, living in the backwoods, where much of his life was spent.
- Military: Commissioned lieutenant of Infantry on March 7, 1792.
- 1793: Placed in charge of a rifle corps which included several Chickasaw Indians who were armed to fight the Spanish.
- Winter of 1793-94: Placed in charge of a detachment at Vincennes, later stationed in Cincinnati. Involved in numerous skirmishes with Indians until victory at Fallen Timbers, where he met Meriwether Lewis.
- 1803: Received letter from Captain Lewis requesting him to help lead an expedition which President Thomas Jefferson was sending to explore the American continent and to find a route to the Pacific Ocean.
- May 14, 1804-September 23, 1806: Explored and safely returned from the expedition across the newly acquired Louisiana Purchase.
- 1813: Appointed Governor of the Missouri Territory.
- 1814-1832: Served as Indian Agent, arranged conciliations between tribes, subdued uprisings, defined tribal boundaries and met delegations of chiefs in Washington, D.C., among other responsibilities.
- First Marriage: January 1808, to Julia Hancock of Fincastle, Virginia.
- Second Marriage: 1821, Harriet Kennerly, cousin of his first wife.
- Children: Four children with first wife, one son with second wife.
- Age at Death: 68 years.
- Place of Death: At the home of his eldest son.
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