| Meriwether Lewis | |
 portrait by Charles Willson Peale
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| Born | August 18, 1774 Charlottesville, Virginia |
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| Died | October 11, 1809 (aged 35) Grinder's Stand, Hohenwald, Tennessee |
Meriwether Lewis (August 18, 1774–October 11, 1809) was an American explorer, soldier, and public administrator, best known for his role as the leader of the Lewis and Clark Expedition also known as the Corps of Discovery, with William Clark, whose mission was to explore the territory of the Louisiana Purchase. Charles Willson Peale ( April 15, 1741 – February 22, 1827) was an American painter, soldier and naturalist Events 293 BC - The oldest known Roman temple to Venus is founded starting the institution of Vinalia Rustica. Year 1774 ( MDCCLXXIV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Charlottesville is an Independent city located within the confines of Albemarle County in the Commonwealth of Virginia, United States Events 1138 - A massive earthquake struck Aleppo, Syria. 1531 - Huldrych Zwingli is killed Year 1809 ( MDCCCIX) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year Grinder's Stand was the stand or inn located on the historic Natchez Trace where Meriwether Lewis died Hohenwald is a city in and the County seat of Lewis County, Tennessee, United States. Events 293 BC - The oldest known Roman temple to Venus is founded starting the institution of Vinalia Rustica. Year 1774 ( MDCCLXXIV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Events 1138 - A massive earthquake struck Aleppo, Syria. 1531 - Huldrych Zwingli is killed Year 1809 ( MDCCCIX) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year The United States of America —commonly referred to as the A soldier is a general English term that refers to a member of a land component of National Armed forces. William Clark ( August 1, 1770 &ndash September 1, 1838) was an American explorer soldier Indian agent, and territorial governor For the film see Louisiana Purchase (film. The Louisiana Purchase (French Vente de la Louisiane "Louisiana Sale"
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Biography
Meriwether Lewis was born in Albemarle County, Virginia, to Captain George Lewis (1712 – 1781) who was of Welsh ancestry, and Lucy Meriwether (1751 – 1837). Charlottesville is an Independent city located within the confines of Albemarle County in the Commonwealth of Virginia, United States The Commonwealth of Virginia ( is an American state The Welsh people ( Welsh: Cymro ("Welshman" Cymraes ("Welsh woman" Cymry ("Welshmen/women" Cymry He moved with his family to Georgia when he was ten. The State of Georgia ( is a state in the United States and was one of the original Thirteen Colonies that revolted against British rule It was there that he met Eric Parker, who was the first to introduce him to the idea of traveling. At thirteen, he was sent back to Virginia for education by private tutors. One of these was Parson Matthew Maury, an uncle of Matthew Fontaine Maury. Matthew Fontaine Maury ( January 14, 1806 &ndash February 1, 1873) USN was an American Astronomer, Parson Maury was a son of Charles Goodyear Maury who was Thomas Jefferson's teacher for two years. Thomas Jefferson (April 13 1743 – July 4 1826 was the third President of the United States (1801–1809 the principal author of the Declaration of Independence In 1793, Lewis graduated from Liberty Hall (now Washington and Lee University), joined the Virginia militia, and in 1794 was sent as part of a detachment involved in putting down the Whiskey Rebellion. Washington and Lee University is a private liberal arts college in Lexington Virginia, USA The term militia is commonly used today to refer to a military force composed of ordinary Citizens to provide defense emergency law enforcement or Paramilitary service The Whiskey Rebellion, less commonly known as the Whiskey Insurrection, was a popular uprising that had its beginnings in 1791 and culminated in an insurrection in 1794 in the
In 1795, he joined the regular U.S. Army, as a Lieutenant, where he served until 1801, at one point in the detachment of William Clark, who would later become his companion in the Corps of Discovery. The United States Army is a military organization whose primary mission is to "provide necessary forces and capabilities. William Clark ( August 1, 1770 &ndash September 1, 1838) was an American explorer soldier Indian agent, and territorial governor
In 1801, he was appointed as an aide by President Thomas Jefferson, whom he knew personally through Virginia society in Albemarle County. Thomas Jefferson (April 13 1743 – July 4 1826 was the third President of the United States (1801–1809 the principal author of the Declaration of Independence Albemarle County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Lewis resided in the White House, and frequently conversed with various prominent figures in politics, the arts and other circles. [1] Originally, he was to provide information on the politics of the United States Army, which had seen an influx of Federalist officers as a result of John Adams's "midnight appointments. The term " federalist " describes several political beliefs around the world John Adams (October 30 1735 July 4 1826 was one of the most influential Founding Fathers of the United States. The Midnight Judges Act (also known as the Judiciary Act of 1801;) represented an effort to solve an issue in the Supreme Court during the late 18th century " [2] When Jefferson began to formulate and to plan for an expedition across the continent, he chose Lewis to lead the expedition.
Expedition
Jefferson selected Captain Meriwether Lewis to lead the proposed expedition, afterwards known as the Corps of Discovery. Lewis became intimately involved in planning the expedition and was sent by Jefferson to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, for instruction in cartography and other skills for making scientific observations. Philadelphia (ˌfɪləˈdɛlfiə The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania ( often colloquially referred to as PA (its abbreviation by natives and Northeasterners is a state located in the Northeastern In June 1803, Jefferson provided Lewis with basic objectives for the mission, focusing on the exploration of the Missouri river and any related streams which might provide access to the Pacific Ocean.
Lewis concluded the expedition would benefit from a co-commander and, with Jefferson's consent, offered the assignment to his friend and former commanding officer, William Clark. Clark and Lewis were both relatively young and adventurous and had shared experience as woodsmen-frontiersmen and Army officers. However the two men were quite different in education and temperment. Lewis was introverted and moody while Clark was extroverted, even-tempered and gregarious. Lewis, who had a better education, possessed a philosophical and speculative outlook and was at home with abstract ideas. Clark was more pragmatic and practical. Because of bureaucratic delays in the U. S. Army, Clark officially only held the rank of Second Lieutenant at the time, but Lewis concealed this from expedition members and shared the leadership of the expedition, always referring to Clark as "Captain". [4]
Lewis departed Pittsburgh for St. Louis—the capital of the new Louisiana Territory—via the Ohio River in the summer of 1803, gathering supplies, equipment, and personnel along the way. Louisiana Territory was a historic Organized territory of the United States from July 4, 1805 until December 11, 1812. The Ohio River is the largest Tributary by volume of the Mississippi River. Between 1804 and 1806, the Corps of Discovery explored thousands of miles of the Missouri and Columbia River watersheds, searching for an all-water route to the Pacific Ocean. The Columbia River (known as Generally sharing leadership responsibilities with William Clark, although technically the leader, Lewis led the expedition safely across the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific and back, with the loss of just one man, Charles Floyd, who died of apparent appendicitis. William Clark ( August 1, 1770 &ndash September 1, 1838) was an American explorer soldier Indian agent, and territorial governor Charles Floyd may refer to Pretty Boy Floyd (1904–1934 US bankrobber and alleged killer Charles Floyd (explorer (1782–1804 In the course of the journey, Lewis observed, collected, and described hundreds of plants and animal species previously unknown to science. The expedition was the first point of Euro-American contact for several Native American tribes; through translators and sign language, Lewis conducted rudimentary ethnographic studies of the peoples he encountered, even as he laid the groundwork for a trade economy to ensure American hegemony over its vast new interior territory. [2]
On August 11, 1806, near the end of the expedition, Lewis was shot in the left thigh by Pierre Cruzatte, a near-blind man under his command, while both were hunting for elk. Events 2492 BC - Traditional date of the defeat of Bel by Hayk, progenitor and founder of the Armenian nation Year 1806 ( MDCCCVI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Private Pierre Cruzatte was a member of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. His wound hampered him for the rest of the journey. [3]
Return, gubernatorial duties and death
After returning from the expedition, Lewis received a reward of 1,400 acres (5. The acre is a unit of Area in a number of different systems including the imperial and U 7 km²) of land. The kilometre ( American spelling: kilometer) symbol km is a unit of Length in the Metric system, equal to one thousand In 1807, Jefferson appointed him governor of the Louisiana Territory; he settled in St. Louis. Louisiana Territory was a historic Organized territory of the United States from July 4, 1805 until December 11, 1812. Lewis was a poor administrator, often quarreling with local political leaders and failing to keep in touch with his superiors in Washington. [4]
Lewis was a Freemason, initiated, passed and raised in Door To Virtue Lodge No. 44 in Albemarle, VA between 1796 and 1797. [5] On August 2, 1808, Lewis and several of his acquaintances submitted a petition to the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania in which they requested a dispensation to establish a lodge in St. Events 338 BC - A Macedonian army led by Philip II defeated the combined forces of Athens and Thebes in the Year 1808 ( MDCCCVIII) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year Louis. Lewis was nominated and recommended to serve as the first Master of the proposed Lodge, which was warranted as Lodge No. 111 on September 16, 1808. Events 1400 - Owain Glyndŵr is declared Prince of Wales by his followers Year 1808 ( MDCCCVIII) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year Here his heavy drinking persisted. [6]
Lewis died under mysterious circumstances of two gunshot wounds in 1809 at a tavern called Grinder's Stand, about 70 miles (110 km) from Nashville, Tennessee, on the Natchez Trace, while in route to Washington to answer complaints about his actions as governor. A tavern or pot-house is loosely a place of Business where people gather to drink Alcoholic beverages and more than likely also be served Food Grinder's Stand was the stand or inn located on the historic Natchez Trace where Meriwether Lewis died A mile is a unit of Length, usually used to measure Distance, in a number of different systems including Imperial units United States Tennessee ( is a state located in the Southern United States. The Natchez Trace, a 440-mile-long path extending from Natchez Mississippi to Nashville Tennessee, linked the Cumberland, Tennessee and Washington DC ( formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, the District, or simply D Whether Lewis committed suicide or was murdered remains a mystery to this day. [7] Jefferson believed the former, while his family continually maintained the latter.
The explorer was buried not far from where he died. He is honored today by a memorial along the Natchez Trace Parkway. See also Blue Ridge Parkway Loveless Cafe
Legacy
Due to his shy personality, Lewis never married. Although he died without legitimate heirs, he does have the putative DNA model haplotype for his paternal ancestors lineage, which was that of the Warner Hall. He was also related to Robert E Lee and Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, among others. Robert Edward Lee (January 19 1807 &ndash October 12 1870 was a career United States Army officer, an Engineer, and among the most celebrated For the ship see RMS Queen Elizabeth 2 Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Context States headed by Elizabeth II [8] He was related to George Washington by marriage: his great-uncle was Fielding Lewis, Washington's brother-in-law. George Washington (February 22 1732 December 14 1799 served as the first President of the United States of America (1789&ndash1797 and led the Fielding Lewis ( July 7, 1725 &ndash December 7, 1781) was a Colonel during the American Revolutionary War and the brother-in-law He was also a second cousin once removed of Washington's on his father's side.
For many years, Lewis's legacy was overlooked, inaccurately assessed, and even tarnished by his alleged suicide. Yet his contributions to science, the exploration of the Western U. Science (from the Latin scientia, meaning " Knowledge " or "knowing" is the effort to discover, and increase human understanding S. , and the lore of great world explorers, are considered incalculable. [2]
Several years after Lewis's death, Thomas Jefferson wrote:
Of courage undaunted, possessing a firmness and perseverance of purpose which nothing but impossibilities could divert from its direction, . . . honest, disinterested, liberal, of sound understanding and a fidelity to truth so scrupulous that whatever he should report would be as certain as if seen by ourselves, with all these qualifications as if selected and implanted by nature in one body for this express purpose, I could have no hesitation in confiding the enterprise to him. [9]
Jefferson also stated that Lewis had a "luminous and discriminating intellect. "
The alpine plant Lewisia (family Portulacaceae), popular in rock gardens, is named after Lewis, as is Lewis's Woodpecker. Plants are living Organisms belonging to the kingdom Plantae. The plant Genus Lewisia was named for Meriwether Lewis. Species include Lewisia brachycalyx Engelm Portulacaceae is a family of Flowering plants, comprising about 20 genera with about 500 species ranging from Herbaceous plants to Shrubs A rock garden, also known as a rockery or an alpine garden, is a type of Garden that features extensive use of rocks or stones along The Lewis's Woodpecker, Melanerpes lewis, is a large North American species of Woodpecker which was named for Meriwether Lewis, one of the Geographic names that honor him include Lewis County, Tennessee; Lewisburg, Tennessee; Lewiston, Idaho; Lewis County, Washington; and the U. Lewis County is a County located in the US state of Tennessee. Lewisburg is a city in Marshall County, Tennessee, United States. Lewiston is the County seat of and largest city in Nez Perce County, Idaho, United States. Lewis County is a County located in the US state of Washington. S. Army installation Fort Lewis, Washington. Fort Lewis is a Census-designated place and United States Army post located in Pierce County Washington, United States. Washington ( is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States.
References
- ^ Corps of Discovery > The Leaders > Meriwether Lewis, National park Service website, accessed 5/29/08.
- ^ a b c Ambrose, Stephen. Stephen Edward Ambrose ( January 10, 1936 – October 13, 2002) was an American Historian and Biographer of U Undaunted Courage: Meriwether Lewis, Thomas Jefferson, and the Opening of the American West. Simon & Schuster: 15 February 1996. ISBN 0-684-81107-3.
- ^ Undaunted Courage, Stephen Ambrose, pg. 385
- ^ PBS - THE WEST - Meriwether Lewis
- ^ Dunslow's 10,000 Famous Freemasons Missouri Lodge of Research, 1959.
- ^ Pa Freemason May 03 - Treasures of the Temple
- ^ John D. W. Guice, James J. Holmberg, and Jay H. Buckley, By His Own Hand? The Mysterious Death of Meriwether Lewis. University of Oklahoma Press, 2006.
- ^ Moses, Grace McLean. The Welsh Lineage of John Lewis (1592-1657), Emigrant to Gloucester, Virginia. Baltimore, MD, USA: Genealogical Publishing Co. , 2002
- ^ Jefferson, Thomas, Paul Allen, 18 August 1813, in Letters of the Lewis and Clark Expedition with Related Documents: 1783–1854, edited by Donald Dean Jackson. Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1962, pp. 589–590.
External links
- Works by Meriwether Lewis at Project Gutenberg
- Meriwether Lewis at Find A Grave Retrieved on 2008-02-20
| Preceded by James Wilkinson |
Governor of Louisiana Territory 1807-1809 |
Succeeded by Benjamin Howard |
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