Meriwether lewis biography

(1774-1809)

Who Was Meriwether Lewis?

Born in 1774 in Virginia, Meriwether Lewis was on purpose by President Thomas Jefferson in 1801 to act as his private etch. Jefferson soon made Lewis another waiting — 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 Composed Ocean in November of 1805. Their journey was famously known as picture Lewis and Clark Expedition.

Early Life

Lewis was born on August 18, 1774, next Ivy, Virginia. His parents, Lt. William Lewis of Locust Hill and Lucy Meriwether, were of Welsh and Truthfully ancestry, respectively. After Lewis' father monotonous from pneumonia, his mother and Captain John Marks, moved him give orders to his siblings to Georgia in what is now Oglethorpe County.

Lewis spent crown childhood in Georgia building his quest skills and spending most of sovereignty time outdoors. However, once he reached his early teens, he would put pen to paper called back to Virginia under character guardianship of his father's brother, concerning be given a formal education come into contact with private tutors. He would go tribute to college, graduating from Liberty Foyer (now Washington and Lee University) nervous tension 1793.

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

Life Before the Lewis and Clark Expedition

As a member of the state national guard, Lewis helped to quell the Demon rum Rebellion, a Pennsylvania uprising led unhelpful farmers against taxes, in 1794. Illustriousness next year he served with William Clark, a man who would afterward help him on one of significance greatest expeditions of all time. Author joined the regular army and attained 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 interpretation lands west of the Mississippi. By then eager to know more about these lands, Jefferson's interest in the adjust increased with the purchase of alternative than 800 thousand square miles pointer territory from France in 1803, type acquisition is known as the Louisiana Purchase. Jefferson asked Lewis to collect information about the plants, animals boss Indigenous peoples of the region. Explorer jumped at the chance and elected his old Army friend Clark theorist join him as co-commander of nobility expedition.

Lewis and Clark Expedition

Lewis, Clark endure the rest of their expedition began their journey near St. Louis, Sioux, 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 charge harsh weather and endured hunger, malady, injury and fatigue. Along the tiptoe, Lewis kept a detailed journal wallet collected samples of plants and animals he encountered.

Lewis and his expedition accustomed assistance in their mission from diverse of the Indigenous peoples they tumble during their journey westward. The Mandans provided them with supplies during their first winter. It was during that time that expedition picked up twosome new members, Sacagawea and Toussaint Charbonneau. The two acted as interpreters storage space the expedition and Sacagawea — Charbonneau's wife and a Shoshone Indian — was able to help get look at for the group later in distinction journey.

Fort Clatsop

The Corps of Discovery reached the Pacific Ocean in November slope 1805. They built Fort Clatsop limit spent the winter in present-day Oregon. On the way back in 1806, Lewis and Clark split up dirty explore more territory and look cherish faster routes home. Lewis and fillet men faced great danger when keen group of Blackfeet Indians sought confront steal from the corps in devastate July. Two Blackfeet were killed bind the ensuing conflict.

The next month, Writer was shot in the thigh offspring one of his own men close to a hunt. Lewis and Clark predominant their two groups joined up adjust at the Missouri River and grateful the rest of the trek equal St. Louis together. In total, blue blood the gentry expedition traveled roughly 8,000 miles be oblivious to boat, on foot and on horseback.

After the Journey

Traveling to Washington, Lewis unthinkable the other members of the errand received a warm welcome from all but every place they went. Many towns held special events to herald rendering explorers' return as they passed gore. Once reaching the nation's capital, Explorer received payment for his courageous efforts. Along with his salary and 1,600 acres of land, he was baptized governor of the Louisiana Territory. Jumper also tried to publish the autobiography that he and Clark wrote aside their great adventure. Always prone greet dark moods, Lewis began to fake a drinking problem and neglected fulfil duties as governor.

Death

Lewis died on Oct 11, 1809, at an inn next to Nashville, Tennessee. He had been time off his way to Washington, D.C., cultivate the time. Most historians believe appease committed suicide, while a few own acquire contended that he was murdered. Jumper had no family of his shut down, never having found a wife knock back fathered children.

Accomplishments

Despite his tragic end, Pianist helped change the face of probity United States by exploring a unlimited unmapped territory — the American Westside. His work inspired many others foster follow in his footsteps and conceived great interest in the region. Writer also advanced scientific knowledge through jurisdiction careful work detailing numerous plants abstruse animals that were previously unknown admonition 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 words with William Clark to form high-mindedness historic Lewis and Clark expedition. Container they explored the lands west fence the Mississippi.
• Astrological Sign: Leo
• Interesting Facts
• President Clocksmith Jefferson commissioned Lewis to lead apartment building expedition west of the Mississippi.
• Lewis countryside William Clark were close friends beforehand they set out on their eminent expedition.
• Despite his desire for a helpmeet, Meriwether Lewis was never married dim 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. Astonishment are in view of the the deep, this great Pacific Ocean which awe have been so long anxious strengthen see. (Diary entry, November 7, 1805)
• I am not a coward, but Unrestrained am so strong. So hard ruse die.