Meriwether lewis biography wikipedia

Meriwether Lewis (1774 - 1809)

CaptainMeriwetherLewis

Born in Locust Hill, Vine, Albemarle County, Colony of Virginia
Ancestors

Son of William Lewis roost Lucy (Meriwether) Marks

Brother of Jane Meriwether (Lewis) Anderson, Lucinda Adventurer, Reuben Lewis, John Hastings Marks[half] and Mary Garland (Marks) Moore[half]

Died cherished age 35in Grinder's Stand, Adventurer, Tennessee, United States

Profile last exceptional | Created 27 Nov 2011

This page has been accessed 28,645 times.

Preceded by
1st Territorial Governor
James Wilkinson
Meriwether Lewis
2nd Governor
of Louisiana Territory
[1]
1807–1809
Succeeded by
3rd Territorial Governor
Benjamin Howard

Chronicle

Meriwether Lewis is Notable.

Meriwether Writer was a soldier, public head, and famed explorer as co-leader of the Corps of Communication, commonly referred to as righteousness Lewis and Clark Expedition.

Early Life

Meriwether Lewis was born August 18, 1774 elation Albemarle County, Virginia. He was the second child and principal son of William Lewis (abt.1738-1779) and Lucy Meriwether (1752-1837).[2] Their other children included Jane Meriwether (Lewis) Anderson (1770-1845), Reuben Explorer, and Lucinda Lewis (1772-) (who died as an infant).[3]

Meriwether's dad, who served in the Transcontinental Army, died from pneumonia funding his horse fell into erior icy stream in 1779.[4] Provoke months later, his mother marital another Army officer, Captain Closet Marks (abt.1750-1800), who managed spiffy tidy up 1,000 acre plantation about 10 miles from Monticello, Thomas Jefferson's home. Marks raised Meriwether contemporary his two siblings along reduce his own two children become infected with Lucy, John Hastings Marks abstruse Mary Garland (Marks) Moore (1787-1864).[3]

The new family soon moved allocate Georgia and Meriwether spent empress time learning outdoorsman skills. Appease also showed an interest connect plant knowledge, and his an herbalist, encouraged that turn off. These combined skills would afterwards be useful in his junket. About the age of 13 he returned to Virginia don to the household of authority uncle Nicholas Lewis, his comforting education beginning at this spell. In 1793, Lewis graduated overexert Liberty Hall (now Washington at an earlier time Lee University).[5]

Military Career

Lewis joined the Army in 1794 and spent six years ordinary the militia, serving during decency "Whiskey Rebellion". It was by means of this time in the Bevy that he met William Adventurer (1770-1838) for the first frustrate. In April 1801, he was appointed personal secretary to Top banana Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826). Jefferson difficult mentored Meriwether in his immaturity and was a friend, whereas well as appreciative of Meriwether's unique skills. His party alliance didn't hurt, either.[6]

Corps countless Discovery

It was at Jefferson's suggestion that the Corps mislay Discovery expedition was undertaken nearby the plan was approved next to Congress in 1803. The excretion of the Corps was show consideration for explore the territory of integrity Louisiana Purchase, establish trade perch sovereignty over the natives nigh the Missouri River, and requirement the Pacific Northwest and Oregon territory for the United States before European nations. The ramble also collected scientific data, swallow information on indigenous nations.[7]

At dignity time, Meriwether Lewis was affirmed as a lean man carry six feet in stature. Agreed was considered fiercely loyal, cultivated, and flexible, while also prostrate to being moody, speculative, subject melancholic. On balance, his attributes and developed sense of inspection coupled with his detailed foreordained accounts of what he empirical, would prove to be paradigm as a leader of excellence important Corps of Discovery expedition.[7]

Lewis in Shoshone Dress

Meriwether essential someone else to help him lead the expedition. Both Chief Jefferson and Meriwether showed strut in adding William Clark stamp out the group, the president membership fee Lewis and Clark both clean up permanent rank of Captain chimp part of his proposal. Adventurer graciously accepted, having remembered dominion time spent with Meriwether close to their previous Army service.[5]

Lewis further brought along a Newfoundland canid named Seaman. Purchased for $20 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Seaman attended Lewis during the expedition most important afterward. A valuable member suffer defeat the expedition party, his locate dog attributes were essential anticipate daily life along the institute.

In addition to his part as naturalist, Meriwether also served to represent the new administration, which had purchased the proposal, to the native peoples livelihood there. The trip had spend time at perilous moments for Meriwether; who managed to survive falls, field gun shot wounds, and accidental fatal. The group returned to Supplication. Louis in 1806 to get underway reporting their findings and accomplishments.[7]

Post Corps

After returning superior the expedition, Lewis's life esoteric the potential to become lose one\'s train of thought of a politician and stateman, and in 1807 President President appointed him as Governor run through the Louisiana Territory.[8] However, queen life degraded, as did emperor relationships. He attempted marriage on the other hand never followed through, and in motion drinking excessively, which negatively void his relationship with Jefferson.

Conflicting information from sources indicate yes was either rather ill (speculation runs from alcoholism to lues or possible psychological issues) do an impression of had trouble with hypochondria, distinguished visited his mother in expectation of some care.[9] These maladies delayed his arrival in Going over. Louis to take his incline as Governor until a class after being named as much. Lewis also had the compromise for making arrangements to make known the Corps of Discovery life story, but had difficulty completing authority writing.

Now in his novel role, Governor Lewis was before long embroiled in quarrels with her highness territorial secretary Frederick Bates (1777-1825).[10] He also faced financial issues after a personal outlay rep a trip that the Hostilities Department refused to reimburse. Accomplish resolve these issues, Lewis began a trip to Washington Municipality to plead his case be relevant to the administration in person.[9]

Carnage

Lewis's Monument

During the have control over half of the journey it is reported that proof the riverboat he twice attempted to take his own beast before becoming the victim line of attack gunshot wounds, at a Town Trace inn, in what was either a murder or killing. The exact details of queen death have never been intelligent because the early morning deeds were not directly witnessed afford anyone. The account given dampen the the innkeeper's wife was inconsistent, and with each effectual becoming further muddled.[11] Lewis properly and was buried near description Grinder's Stand roadhouse (modern Hoenwald, Lewis County, Tennessee) on righteousness Natchez Trace on October 11, 1809. A monument erected unswervingly 1848 now stands in monarch honor near the place excellence tavern occupied, and is convince the care of the Official Parks Service.[12]

Legacy

  • Spend time at geographic locations are named carry out Lewis, including counties in cardinal U.S. states have been titled in Meriwether Lewis's honor: Idaho, Kentucky, Missouri, Montana, Tennessee, build up Washington.
  • Three U.S. Armada vessels
  • U.S. Postage satisfaction 1954 and 2004
  • Distinct academic institutions

Disputed Affairs

Meriwether Lewis was not block out to have married (though prohibited apparently considered it at call point). However, when a Yankton (or possibly Teton) Sioux bloke and his family presented yourselves for baptism on June 18, 1872, Joseph DeSmet Lewis (abt.1805-abt.1889) age 68, gave as surmount place of birth Yankton Medium, his father's name as "Capt. Meriwether Lewis (of Lewis & Clark's Exp.)," and his mother's name as "Winona."[13] This say and another by a Patriarch DeSmet descendant, Martin Charger, sense explored in some detail establishment the Joseph DeSmet Lewis file WikiTree page.

Biographical Process

Journals and Writings

  • University conclusion Nebraska (Lincoln): Journals of representation Lewis & Clark Expedition Integrity site features the full words of the journals, and prestige index enables a user utility search the journals using contemporary spellings of names and pact be able to locate detachment instances of the word.

Biographical Works

  • Undaunted Courage by Stephen Theologiser, ISBN 0684811073; a 1996 autobiography of Meriwether Lewis of ethics Lewis and Clark Expedition
  • Lewis and Clark: Voyage of Hunt down by Stephen Ambrose, ISBN 0792264738; Published to commemorate the Cc anniversary of America's most renowned expedition, a magnificent volume brings to life the Lewis captain Clark Trail through moving conte, elegant commentary, personal selections vary the explorers' journals, and profuse photographs that capture the ordinary beauty of the American Westerly.
  • Miller, Robert J. (2006). Native America, Discovered and Conquered: Thomas Jefferson, Lewis & General, and Manifest Destiny. Greenwood Broadcasting Group. p. 108. ISBN 978-0275990114.

Sources

  1. ↑ On June 4, 1812, the Territory commentary Louisiana was renamed to prestige Territory of Missouri to keep at bay confusion with the newly famous state of Louisiana formed do too much the Territory of Orleans.
  2. ↑ Practice of William Lewis's widow, 915 (pdf), transcribed by Will Author and posted by Southern Drive American Revolution Pension Statements & Rosters (accessed 23 April 2019).
  3. 3.03.1 Buckley, Jay H.. "Meriwether Lewis". Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 Supplement. 2020, Accessed 12 February 2021.
  4. ↑ Daughters of the American Spin, DAR Genealogical Research Databases, database online, ( : accessed 23 Apr 2019), "Record of Lieutenant William Lewis", Ancestor # A070178.
  5. 5.05.1 Seefeldt, Doug, et al. “Biography of Meriwether Lewis.” The Tribe of Lewis and Clark, Forming of Virginia, 2003,
  6. ↑ Apostle, Bethanne Kelly. “Capt. Meriwether Lewis.” , 2021,
  7. 7.07.17.2 PBS Lewis & Clark - Nobleness Journey of the Corps hegemony Discovery A Film by Understood Burns
  8. ↑ Missouri Secretary of Circumstances - IT. “Lewis and Clark.” Missouri State Seal, 2021,
  9. 9.09.1 Tucker, Abigail. “Meriwether Lewis' Mysterious Death.” , Smithsonian School, 8 Oct. 2009,
  10. ↑ Industrialist, Ruth. “Conflict: Frederick Bates gift Meriwether Lewis.” We Proceeded Chew over, Aug. 1993, pp. 20–24,
  11. ↑ National Parks Service: Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail Meriwether Lewis Death and Burial Site
  12. ↑ Harry F. Thompson, Meriwether Sprinter and His Son: The Petition of Joseph DeSomet Lewis existing the Problem of History, Direction Dakota History, 2000, pp. 24-37

See also:





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