Born
(Meriwether) Lewis: August 18, 1774; (William) Clark: August 1, 1770
Died
Merriweather Lewis: October 11, 1809; William Clark: September 1, 1838
Spouses
Lewis: none; Clark: Julia Hancock (1808 – 1820), Harriet Kennerly Radford (1820 – 1831)
Years Of Service
Lewis: US Army (1794 – 1801), Governor of the Louisiana Territory (1807 – 1809);
Clark: US Militia (1789 – 1796), Governor of the Missouri Territory (1813 – 1820)
Ranks
Lewis: Captain; Clark: Lieutenant
Commands
Co-commanders of the Corps of Discovery
Achievements
Lewis: Persona Secretary to Pres. Jefferson;
Clark: Appointed Brigadier General of the Militia and Superintendent of Indian Affairs.
Lewis And Clark Articles
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Lewis And Clark Expedition summary: The United States purchased Louisiana from France in 1803. The huge part of the land west of the Mississippi River was completely unknown to Americans and needed to be examined first before it could be settled. President Jefferson decided to send an exploratory expedition west so he appointed his own private secretary, Meriwether Lewis as a Commander in charge of the expedition and finding appropriate guides for it. Lewis invited his former superior officer from the Army, William Clark, to be his Co-commander.
The Lewis And Clark Expedition Begins
Their mission was to explore the unknown territory, establish trade with the Natives and affirm the sovereignty of the United States in the region. One of their goals was to find a waterway from the US to the Pacific Ocean. Lewis and Clark commanded the Corps of Discovery which consisted of 33 people, including one Indian woman and one slave.
Sacagawea Serves As A Guide
The expedition lasted from May 1804 until September 1806. They failed to find a waterway from the Mississippi to the Pacific, but succeeded in documenting more than 100 new animals and 178 plants, as well as providing 140 maps of the region. The expedition was so marked in history that the story of the explorers was made into many films and many books have been written about them. Sacagawea was a Native American who guided their mission because she knew the native land far better than the European travelers. The travelers, Sacagawea and often her husband are depicted in many different ways in paintings, carvings, and in media. Learn more about Sacagawea.
Lewis And Clark Expedition Map
To see a map of the Lewis and Clark Expedition as well as paintings of Merriweather Lewis and William Clark, please see our Lewis And Clark Map page.
