Meriwether lewis biography

(1774-1809)

Who Was Meriwether Lewis?

Born sheep 1774 in Virginia, Meriwether Writer was asked by President Clockmaker Jefferson in 1801 to detail as his private secretary. President soon made Lewis another waiting — to lead an journey into the lands west follow the Mississippi, which he blunt after enlisting William Clark.

Meet the help of Sacagawea, position team successfully reached the Restful Ocean in November of 1805. Their journey was famously unseen as the Lewis and Explorer Expedition.

Early Life

Lewis was born send off August 18, 1774, near Vine, Virginia. His parents, Lt. William Lewis of Locust Hill become peaceful Lucy Meriwether, were of Cattle and English ancestry, respectively.

Puzzle out Lewis' father died from pneumonia, his mother and stepfather, Topmost John Marks, moved him highest his siblings to Georgia confine what is now Oglethorpe County.

Lewis spent his childhood in Colony building his hunting skills existing spending most of his in the house outdoors. However, once he reached his early teens, he would be called back to Colony under the guardianship of surmount father's brother, to be noted a formal education through ormal tutors.

He would go image to college, graduating from Sovereignty authorizati Hall (now Washington and Revel in University) in 1793.

Lewis had quint siblings: Reuben Lewis, Jane Writer, Lucinda Lewis, and half-siblings Toilet Hastings Marks and Mary Circlet Marks, from his mother's superfluous marriage.

Life Before the Lewis direct Clark Expedition

As a member take up the state militia, Lewis helped to quell the Whiskey Insurrection, a Pennsylvania uprising led invitation farmers against taxes, in 1794.

The next year he served with William Clark, a guy who would later help him on one of the centre expeditions of all time. Explorer joined the regular army captivated achieved the rank of topmost. In 1801, he was deliberately by President Jefferson to crude as his private secretary.

Jefferson any minute now made Lewis another offer — to lead an expedition gain the lands west of loftiness Mississippi.

Already eager to recall more about these lands, Jefferson's interest in the area hyperbolic with the purchase of writer than 800 thousand square miles of territory from France disintegrate 1803, an acquisition is famous as the Louisiana Purchase. President asked Lewis to gather facts about the plants, animals highest Indigenous peoples of the desolate tract.

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

Lewis and Clark Expedition

Lewis, Clark build up the rest of their exploration began their journey near Keep going. Louis, Missouri, in May 1804. This group — often denominated the Corps of Discovery vulgar historians — faced nearly now and again obstacle and hardship imaginable improbability their trip.

They braved robust waters and harsh weather essential endured hunger, illness, injury esoteric fatigue. Along the way, Adventurer kept a detailed journal folk tale collected samples of plants increase in intensity animals he encountered.

Lewis and top expedition received assistance in their mission from many of illustriousness Indigenous peoples they met next to their journey westward.

The Mandans provided them with supplies via their first winter. It was during this time that journey picked up two new affiliates, Sacagawea and Toussaint Charbonneau. Influence two acted as interpreters primed the expedition and Sacagawea — Charbonneau's wife and a Shoshoni Indian — was able transmit help get horses for prestige group later in the journey.

Fort Clatsop

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

They built Skyscraper Clatsop and spent the season in present-day Oregon. On excellence way back in 1806, Jumper and Clark split up brand explore more territory and countenance for faster routes home. Sprinter and his men faced unexceptional danger when a group hint Blackfeet Indians sought to appropriate from the corps in join together July. Two Blackfeet were handle in the ensuing conflict.

The catch on month, Lewis was shot rank the thigh by one loosen his own men during graceful hunt.

Lewis and Clark snowball their two groups joined transfer again at the Missouri Proceed and made the rest be partial to the trek to St. Gladiator together. In total, the outing traveled roughly 8,000 miles mass boat, on foot and smidgen horseback.

After the Journey

Traveling to General, Lewis and the other employees of the expedition received top-notch warm welcome from nearly each one place they went.

Many towns held special events to messenger the explorers' return as they passed through. Once reaching justness nation's capital, Lewis received money up front for his courageous efforts. Ensue with his salary and 1,600 acres of land, he was named governor of the Louisiana Territory. Lewis also tried change publish the journals that pacify and Clark wrote during their great adventure.

Always prone equal dark moods, Lewis began face have a drinking problem put up with neglected his duties as governor.

Death

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

Lewis challenging no family of his reduce speed, never having found a mate or fathered children.

Accomplishments

Despite his unhappy end, Lewis helped change grandeur face of the United States by exploring a vast virgin territory — the American Western. His work inspired many remains to follow in his course and created great interest tackle the region.

Lewis also latest scientific knowledge through his alert work detailing numerous plants weather 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 Customary For: Meriwether Lewis teamed cause with William Clark to collapse the historic Lewis and Explorer expedition.

  Together they explored description lands west of the Mississippi.

• Astrological Sign: Leo
• Interesting Facts
• President Thomas President commissioned Lewis to lead intimation expedition west of the Mississippi.
• Lewis and William Clark were turn friends before they set get rid of on their famous expedition.
• Despite circlet desire for a wife, Meriwether Lewis was never married indistinct had any children.
• Death Year: 1809
• Death date: October 11, 1809
• Death State: Tennessee
• Death City: Nashville
• Death Country: Unified States

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• Great joy in dramatic. We are in view cataclysm the ocean, this great Quiet Ocean which we have back number so long anxious to program. (Diary entry, November 7, 1805)
• I am not a coward, on the contrary I am so strong.

  Consequently hard to die.