Meriwether Lewis was born in Virginia, but in 1780 he moved with his mother and stepfather to Georgia, where his older brother became his guardian. While in Georgia, he developed his interest in natural history and improved his skills as an outdoorsman. He also established contact with the Cherokee people, who saw him as a champion among his people. In 1793, Lewis graduate from Liberty Hall and joined the Virginia militia. Shortly thereafter, he was sent to subdue members of the Whiskey Rebellion, and upon his return he joined the U.S. Army, where he served as lieutenant until 1801. At that time, he was appointed as an aide to President Thomas Jefferson, whom he knew personally, and soon after he was chosen to set out on an expedition to reach the Pacific Ocean.
Upon his return, Lewis received 1,600 aces of land and was appointed governor of the Louisiana Territory. He made arrangements to publish the journals he had kept while on his trek across the country, but he was shot while on his journey to Washington, D.C. Whether his death was a suicide is widely debated; he was found injured by several gunshot wounds, including one that took off part of his skull, and he died shortly after sunrise the next day.
Died. | |
Moved to Georgia with his mother and stepfather. | |
Graduated from Liberty Hall (now Washington and Lee University). | |
Helped put down the Whiskey Rebellion. | |
Served in the U.S. Army. | |
Expedition to the Pacific Coast. | |
Appointed governor of the Louisiana Territory. | |
Killed by multiple gunshot wounds. |
Long Journey in | Stories of Great Americans for Little Americans by Edward Eggleston |
Lewis and Clark in | America First—100 Stories from Our History by Lawton B. Evans |
Lewis and Clark—I in | Trails of the Pathfinders by George Bird Grinnell |
Jefferson—How the Door Was Opened in | This Country of Ours by H. E. Marshall |
Bird Woman Meets Lewis in | Bird Woman —Guide of Lewis and Clark by James Willard Schultz |
Image Links | ||
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Captains Lewis and Clark were much puzzled at this point in Trails of the Pathfinders |
Mariwether Lewis in Opening the West with Lewis and Clark |
That means she sees her own people.' in Opening the West with Lewis and Clark |
Led an expedition up the Missouri River, map-making, gathering information, and looking for a passage to the Pacific Ocean. | |
Thomas Jefferson | Third President. Author of the Declaration of Independence. Founder of Democrat-Republican Party. |
Chief of a Piute tribe. First befriended the white settlers, but rebelled when his tribe was mistreated. | |
Indian woman who accompanied Lewis and Clark during their explorations of the Louisiana Purchase. |