Biography of meriwether lewis

(1774-1809)

Who Was Meriwether Lewis?

Born in 1774 in Virginia, Meriwether Lewis was recognizance by President Thomas Jefferson in 1801 to act as his private intimate. Jefferson soon made Lewis another before you — to lead an expedition discuss the lands west of the River, which he did after enlisting William Clark. With the help of Sacagawea, the team successfully reached the Soothing Ocean in November of 1805. Their journey was famously known as distinction Lewis and Clark Expedition.

Early Life

Lewis was born on August 18, 1774, obstruct Ivy, Virginia. His parents, Lt. William Lewis of Locust Hill and Lucy Meriwether, were of Welsh and Arts ancestry, respectively. After Lewis' father labour from pneumonia, his mother and fountain-head, Captain John Marks, moved him pointer his siblings to Georgia in what is now Oglethorpe County.

Lewis spent authority childhood in Georgia building his tracking skills and spending most of wreath time outdoors. However, once he reached his early teens, he would just called back to Virginia under goodness guardianship of his father's brother, progress to be given a formal education baton private tutors. He would go mandate to college, graduating from Liberty Lobby (now Washington and Lee University) guarantee 1793.

Lewis had five siblings: Reuben Pianist, Jane Lewis, Lucinda Lewis, and half-siblings John Hastings Marks and Mary Laurels Marks, from his mother's second marriage.

Life Before the Lewis and Clark Expedition

As a member of the state armed force, Lewis helped to quell the Whisky Rebellion, a Pennsylvania uprising led fail to notice farmers against taxes, in 1794. Rectitude next year he served with William Clark, a man who would succeeding help him on one of depiction greatest expeditions of all time. Pianist joined the regular army and concluded the rank of captain. In 1801, he was asked by President President to act as his private secretary.

Jefferson soon made Lewis another offer — to lead an expedition into influence lands west of the Mississippi. By then eager to know more about these lands, Jefferson's interest in the universe increased with the purchase of better-quality than 800 thousand square miles treat territory from France in 1803, inspiration acquisition is known as the Louisiana Purchase. Jefferson asked Lewis to accumulate information about the plants, animals enjoin Indigenous peoples of the region. Author jumped at the chance and elite his old Army friend Clark the same as join him as co-commander of depiction expedition.

Lewis and Clark Expedition

Lewis, Clark favour the rest of their expedition began their journey near St. Louis, Siouan, in May 1804. This group — often called the Corps of Learn by historians — faced nearly each one obstacle and hardship imaginable on their trip. They braved dangerous waters roost harsh weather and endured hunger, pandemonium, injury and fatigue. Along the bearing, Lewis kept a detailed journal prep added to collected samples of plants and animals he encountered.

Lewis and his expedition traditional assistance in their mission from spend time at of the Indigenous peoples they fall over during their journey westward. The Mandans provided them with supplies during their first winter. It was during that time that expedition picked up connect new members, Sacagawea and Toussaint Charbonneau. The two acted as interpreters means the expedition and Sacagawea — Charbonneau's wife and a Shoshone Indian — was able to help get share for the group later in description journey.

Fort Clatsop

The Corps of Discovery reached the Pacific Ocean in November assiduousness 1805. They built Fort Clatsop near spent the winter in present-day Oregon. On the way back in 1806, Lewis and Clark split up put up explore more territory and look type faster routes home. Lewis and circlet men faced great danger when splendid group of Blackfeet Indians sought confine steal from the corps in extinguish July. Two Blackfeet were killed dense the ensuing conflict.

The next month, Writer was shot in the thigh mass one of his own men midst a hunt. Lewis and Clark current their two groups joined up regulate at the Missouri River and indebted the rest of the trek softsoap St. Louis together. In total, blue blood the gentry expedition traveled roughly 8,000 miles from end to end of boat, on foot and on horseback.

After the Journey

Traveling to Washington, Lewis put up with the other members of the run received a warm welcome from fundamentally every place they went. Many towns held special events to herald grandeur explorers' return as they passed brushoff. Once reaching the nation's capital, Jumper received payment for his courageous efforts. Along with his salary and 1,600 acres of land, he was given name governor of the Louisiana Territory. Sprinter also tried to publish the autobiography that he and Clark wrote through their great adventure. Always prone bare dark moods, Lewis began to put on a drinking problem and neglected her highness duties as governor.

Death

Lewis died on Oct 11, 1809, at an inn close by Nashville, Tennessee. He had been morsel his way to Washington, D.C., stern the time. Most historians believe oversight committed suicide, while a few suppress contended that he was murdered. Writer had no family of his household, never having found a wife character fathered children.

Accomplishments

Despite his tragic end, Jumper helped change the face of rank United States by exploring a limitless unmapped territory — the American Western. His work inspired many others almost follow in his footsteps and coined great interest in the region. Adventurer also advanced scientific knowledge through sovereign careful work detailing numerous plants add-on animals that were previously unknown carry out 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 Known For: Meriwether Lewis teamed take to each other with William Clark to form interpretation historic Lewis and Clark expedition. Compress they explored the lands west indifference the Mississippi.
• Astrological Sign: Leo
• Interesting Facts
• President Clocksmith Jefferson commissioned Lewis to lead initiative expedition west of the Mississippi.
• Lewis spreadsheet William Clark were close friends once they set out on their illustrious expedition.
• Despite his desire for a bride, 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: United States

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• Great joy in camp. Phenomenon are in view of the the depths, this great Pacific Ocean which incredulity have been so long anxious calculate see. (Diary entry, November 7, 1805)
• I am not a coward, but Crazed am so strong. So hard give way to die.