Meriwether Lewis was born August 18, 1774. He was born near Charlottesville, Virginia, and was a neighbor of Thomas Jefferson. In 1794, Lewis joined the militia and with the rank of Ensign, was attached to a sub legion of General "Mad Anthony" Wayne. Who was commanded by Lieutenant William Clark. In sharing the experiences of the Northwest Campaign against the British and the Indians, Lewis and Clark fashioned the bonds of an enduring friendship. On March 6, 1801, Lewis, as a young Army Captain in Pittsburgh, received a letter from the soon to be President who was Thomas Jefferson. He was offering Lewis a position as his secretary-aide. The letter said, "Your knowledge of the Western country, of the army, and of it's interests and relations
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He later served as governor of Upper Louisiana Territory. The Lewis and Clark Expedition spanned 8,000 miles and three years, taking the Corps of Discovery, as the expedition party was known, down the Ohio River, up the Missouri River, across the Continental Divide, and to the Pacific Ocean. Lewis served as the field scientist, chronicling botanical, zoological, meteorological, geographic and ethnographic information. Lewis, Clark, and the rest of their expedition began their journey near St. Louis, Missouri, in May 1804. This group often called the Corps of Discovery by historians faced nearly every obstacle and hardship imaginable on their trip. They braved dangerous waters and harsh weather and endured hunger, illness, injury, and fatigue. Along the way, Lewis kept a detailed journal and collected samples of plants and animals he encountered. Lewis and his expedition received assistance in their mission from many of the native peoples they met during their journey westward. The Mandans provided them with supplies during their first winter. It was during this time that expedition picked up two new members, Sacagawea and Touissant Charbonneau. The two acted as interpreters for the expedition and Sacagawea, Charbonneau’s wife and a Shoshone Indian, was able to help get horses for the group later in the
He later served as governor of Upper Louisiana Territory. The Lewis and Clark Expedition spanned 8,000 miles and three years, taking the Corps of Discovery, as the expedition party was known, down the Ohio River, up the Missouri River, across the Continental Divide, and to the Pacific Ocean. Lewis served as the field scientist, chronicling botanical, zoological, meteorological, geographic and ethnographic information. Lewis, Clark, and the rest of their expedition began their journey near St. Louis, Missouri, in May 1804. This group often called the Corps of Discovery by historians faced nearly every obstacle and hardship imaginable on their trip. They braved dangerous waters and harsh weather and endured hunger, illness, injury, and fatigue. Along the way, Lewis kept a detailed journal and collected samples of plants and animals he encountered. Lewis and his expedition received assistance in their mission from many of the native peoples they met during their journey westward. The Mandans provided them with supplies during their first winter. It was during this time that expedition picked up two new members, Sacagawea and Touissant Charbonneau. The two acted as interpreters for the expedition and Sacagawea, Charbonneau’s wife and a Shoshone Indian, was able to help get horses for the group later in the