Meriwether Lewis

Meriwether Lewis

Meriwether Lewis (born August 18, 1774 in Ivy, Colony of Virginia , † October 11, 1809 in Tennessee ) was an American explorer, soldier and administrator. He was instrumental in the planning and execution of the Lewis and Clark Expedition ( Corps of Discovery , Discovery Corps involved).

Life

Lewis was born in the village of Ivy, Albemarle County , Virginia, the second child of Lieutenant William Lewis and his wife Lucy Meriwether Lewis. When he was ten years old, the wealthy family moved to Georgia . At thirteen he was sent back to Virginia to be tutored by private tutors.

In Virginia he joined the military. In 1794 he was a member of a department sent out to put down the Whiskey Rebellion . The following year he joined the regular army and served for a time under his future partner, William Clark . As paymaster , Lewis visited many forts on the borders of what was then the United States. He was promoted to captain .

In 1801, Lewis was appointed private secretary to US President Thomas Jefferson and met many politicians and influential people. He was very closely involved in the planning and preparation of the research expedition to the Pacific. Jefferson sent him to Philadelphia , where he received training in medical matters, map- making , sextant handling, and other necessary skills.

Between 1804 and 1806 he led the Lewis and Clark Expedition with William Clark across unknown territory from St. Louis to the Pacific and back. In his diaries and reports, Lewis described the geology and geography as well as a variety of previously unknown plants , animals and Indian tribes . He also noted his assessments for the establishment of military and commercial bases .

After returning Lewis received his reward for the expedition: double pay (a total of 1,228 US dollars ) and 1,600 acre land. Although his talents were not in politics, he was appointed governor of the Louisiana Territory, which was acquired by the French in 1803, based in St. Louis.

In the following years he got alcohol problems. Several attempts to find a wife failed. His friendship with Jefferson also suffered from his alcoholism. He did not pay much attention to the publication of the expedition reports.

On the way to Washington DC , he died of gunshot wounds to the head and chest in a tavern called Grinder's Stand , about 100 kilometers south of Nashville , Tennessee. It has never been determined whether his death was suicide, as officially believed, or murder, as his family claims. In any case, he is said to have been very depressed shortly before his death and to have tried several times to drown himself in the Mississippi River .

The plant genus Lewisia from the Montiaceae family , very popular in rock gardens, is named after him. Likewise the place and military base Fort Lewis in Washington state .

literature

• Patricia Tyson Stoud: Bitterroot: the life and death of Meriwether Lewis , Philadelphia: PENN, [2018], ISBN 978-0-8122-4984-2 .

Web links

Commons : Meriwether Lewis  - Collection of Images, Videos and Audio Files

• Literature by and about Meriwether Lewis in the catalog of the German National Library
• Full biography (English)
• Meriwether Lewis in the database of Find a Grave (English)

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Historical Marker Database: Birthplace of Meriwether Lewis (accessed April 6, 2010).