Captain Meriwether Lewis
Meriwether Lewis was born on August
18, 1774 in Albemarle County, Virginia. Lewis was raised on a 1,000
acre plantation 10 miles from Monticello, the home of Thomas Jefferson.
Lewis joined the Army in 1794. He served six years in the army, eventually
earning the rank of Captain Meriwether Lewis in 1800. In 1801, Lewis was
chosen by Thomas Jefferson to be his personal secretary. Lewis was a appointed
to this position because of his strong political affiliation with the Republican
Party. Under Jefferson's direction, Lewis planned an expedition to the
west coast in search of finding a water route to the Pacific Ocean. After
the Louisiana Purchase was complete on April 30, 1803 the direction of
this expedition changed from not only finding a water route to the Pacific
Ocean, but also for the explorers to communicate the change of sovereignty
to the western Indians, and countries that already inhabited this area.
Lewis decided that he would need an assistant for this expedition. He and
Jefferson decided that William Clark would be a helpful addition to this
team. Lewis had some mishaps along this journey, which included, a 20 foot
fall down the side of a cavern, and accidentally poisoning himself while
conducting some experimental tastes on ore found in a bluff. He was also
accidentally shot by a fellow member of the Corps of Discovery during an
elk hunting trip. Despite these mishaps, Lewis managed to endure
this journey. He was a great leader. Today he is recognized as one
of the greatest explorers in American histsory. Unfortunately Meriwether
Lewis died in 1809.
Captain William Clark
William Clark was born on August 1,
1770 near the Rappahannock River in Virginia. When the war was over, Clark's
family relocated to Mulberry Hill near Louisville. Clark joined the Kentucky
Militia at the age of 19 and began his military career began. During this
time Clark learned to "build forts, draw maps, lead pack trains through
enemy county, and fight the indians on their ground." Clarks abilities
led to his promotion to the rank of captain. Meriwether Lewis was one of
the men assigned to Clark, which led to their friendship, and eventual
co-commanding the Corps of Discovery. Clark joined Lewis on the expedition
at Clarksville, Indiana Territory. Clark and his servant York, boarded
the boat with Meriwether Lewis and set forth on the expedition. Clark was
enlisted as the expedition's cartographer. His maps became valuable resources
to the United States. They depicted uncharted territory, and all that the
west offered. Clark was rewarded for his efforts on this journey. He later
married a woman named Julia Hancock in Fincastle, Virginia. Julia later
bore Clark a son, who was named Meriwether Lewis Clark, in honor of his
father's partner. Clark went on to become the Governor of the Missouri
Territory, a Brigadier General, and a Superintendent of Indian Affairs.
William Clark died of natural causes on September 1, 1838.