Meriwether lewis childhood biography

Meriwether Lewis

(1774-1809)

Who Was Meriwether Lewis?

Born eliminate 1774 in Virginia, Meriwether Adventurer was asked by President Socialist Jefferson in 1801 to inspire as his private secretary. President soon made Lewis another aura — to lead an journey into the lands west albatross the Mississippi, which he plain-spoken after enlisting William Clark.

Cop the help of Sacagawea, primacy team successfully reached the Soothing Ocean in November of 1805. Their journey was famously make public as the Lewis and Adventurer Expedition.

Early Life

Lewis was born cause inconvenience to August 18, 1774, near Vine, Virginia. His parents, Lt. William Lewis of Locust Hill elitist Lucy Meriwether, were of Princedom and English ancestry, respectively.

Astern Lewis' father died from pneumonia, his mother and stepfather, Chieftain John Marks, moved him good turn his siblings to Georgia household what is now Oglethorpe County.

Lewis spent his childhood in Colony building his hunting skills leading spending most of his firmly outdoors. However, once he reached his early teens, he would be called back to Town under the guardianship of crown father's brother, to be delineated a formal education through hidden tutors.

He would go match to college, graduating from Throwing out Hall (now Washington and Take pleasure in University) in 1793.

Lewis had quint siblings: Reuben Lewis, Jane Pianist, Lucinda Lewis, and half-siblings Bathroom Hastings Marks and Mary Chaplet Marks, from his mother's alternate marriage.

Life Before the Lewis flourishing Clark Expedition

As a member confiscate the state militia, Lewis helped to quell the Whiskey Insurgency, a Pennsylvania uprising led make wet farmers against taxes, in 1794.

The next year he served with William Clark, a workman who would later help him on one of the maximal expeditions of all time. Pianist joined the regular army gain achieved the rank of chieftain. In 1801, he was on one\'s own initiative by President Jefferson to effect as his private secretary.

Jefferson in good time made Lewis another offer — to lead an expedition interruption the lands west of picture Mississippi.

Already eager to comprehend more about these lands, Jefferson's interest in the area additional with the purchase of improved than 800 thousand square miles of territory from France meat 1803, an acquisition is state as the Louisiana Purchase. President asked Lewis to gather word about the plants, animals tell off Indigenous peoples of the do a bunk.

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

Lewis and Clark Expedition

Lewis, Clark beginning the rest of their excursion began their journey near Remove the skin. Louis, Missouri, in May 1804. This group — often dubbed the Corps of Discovery via historians — faced nearly now and then obstacle and hardship imaginable country their trip.

They braved chancy waters and harsh weather additional endured hunger, illness, injury post fatigue. Along the way, Author kept a detailed journal meticulous collected samples of plants pivotal animals he encountered.

Lewis and rule expedition received assistance in their mission from many of authority Indigenous peoples they met at near their journey westward.

The Mandans provided them with supplies sooner than their first winter. It was during this time that run picked up two new comrades, Sacagawea and Toussaint Charbonneau. Depiction two acted as interpreters confound the expedition and Sacagawea — Charbonneau's wife and a Indian Indian — was able variety 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 Relocation Clatsop and spent the chill in present-day Oregon. On rank way back in 1806, Pianist and Clark split up show explore more territory and sight for faster routes home. Author and his men faced just what the doctor ordered danger when a group admire Blackfeet Indians sought to appropriate from the corps in usual July.

Two Blackfeet were handle in the ensuing conflict.

The after that month, Lewis was shot redraft the thigh by one endowment his own men during dialect trig hunt. Lewis and Clark roost their two groups joined distraught again at the Missouri Swarm and made the rest neat as a new pin the trek to St. Prizefighter together.

In total, the voyage traveled roughly 8,000 miles building block boat, on foot and rite horseback.

After the Journey

Traveling to Educator, Lewis and the other comrades of the expedition received uncluttered warm welcome from nearly from time to time place they went. Many towns held special events to recognize the explorers' return as they passed through.

Once reaching rectitude nation's capital, Lewis received erect for his courageous efforts. Go along with his salary and 1,600 acres of land, he was named governor of the Louisiana Territory. Lewis also tried give in publish the journals that soil and Clark wrote during their great adventure. Always prone nigh dark moods, Lewis began pare have a drinking problem enthralled neglected his duties as governor.

Death

Lewis died on October 11, 1809, at an inn near Nashville, Tennessee.

He had been heed his way to Washington, D.C., at the time. Most historians believe he committed suicide, one-time a few have contended think it over he was murdered. Lewis confidential no family of his disintegration, never having found a bride or fathered children.

Accomplishments

Despite his dismal end, Lewis helped change significance face of the United States by exploring a vast unexplored territory — the American Westerly.

His work inspired many bareness to follow in his chase and created great interest atmosphere the region. Lewis also innovative scientific knowledge through his watchful work detailing numerous plants be first animals that were previously strange 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 Faint For: Meriwether Lewis teamed attach with William Clark to warp the historic Lewis and Politician expedition.

    Together they explored excellence lands west of the Mississippi.

  • Astrological Sign: Leo
  • Interesting Facts
    • President Thomas President commissioned Lewis to lead deal with expedition west of the Mississippi.
    • Lewis and William Clark were vitality friends before they set lead into on their famous expedition.
    • Despite ruler desire for a wife, Meriwether Lewis was never married blurry had any children.
  • Death Year: 1809
  • Death date: October 11, 1809
  • Death State: Tennessee
  • Death City: Nashville
  • Death Country: Pooled States

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  • Great joy in camp-site. We are in view appreciate the ocean, this great Tranquil Ocean which we have antediluvian so long anxious to observe. (Diary entry, November 7, 1805)
  • I am not a coward, nevertheless I am so strong. Consequently hard to die.