Meriwether Lewis
1774 – 1809

Meriwether Lewis

American explorer (1774-1809)

scientific collectorexplorerbotanical collectorbotanistmilitary officer
Born
1774-08-18, Ivy
Died
1809-10-11
Birthplace state
Virginia

Biography

Meriwether Lewis was an American explorer, soldier, politician, 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. Their mission was to explore the territory of the Louisiana Purchase, establish trade with, and sovereignty over the natives near the Missouri River, and claim the Pacific Northwest and Oregon Country for the United States before European nations. They also collected scientific data and information on indigenous nations. President Thomas Jefferson appointed him Governor of Upper Louisiana in 1806. He died in 1809 of gunshot wounds, in what was either a murder or suicide.

Occupation

Meriwether Lewis is recorded as a scientific collector, a explorer, a botanical collector, a botanist, a military officer and a politician, born in Virginia (1774–1809).

Connections to Virginia

Meriwether Lewis was born in Ivy, Virginia in 1774. Explore other notable figures from Virginia, historic sites connected to this era, and the full colonial and statehood history of the state using the links below.

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Geology
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LiDAR Terrain
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Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
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The Community
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Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
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Historical Maps
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Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
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Spotlight
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Points of Interest
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More notable figures from Virginia

Other historical figures born in Virginia, ranked by historical prominence.

George Washington
George Washington
founding Father and first U.S. president; soldier and slave owner (1732–1799)
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson
president of the United States from 1801 to 1809 (1743–1826)
James Madison
James Madison
President of the United States from 1809 to 1817 (1751–1836)
James Monroe
James Monroe
president of the United States from 1817 to 1825 (1758–1831)
Zachary Taylor
Zachary Taylor
president of the United States from 1849 to 1850
John Tyler
John Tyler
president of the United States from 1841 to 1845
William Henry Harrison
William Henry Harrison
president of the United States in 1841

Frequently asked about Meriwether Lewis

Who was Meriwether Lewis?
Meriwether Lewis was American explorer (1774-1809), born in Virginia (1774 – 1809).
When and where was Meriwether Lewis born?
Meriwether Lewis was born on 1774-08-18 in Ivy.
When did Meriwether Lewis die?
Meriwether died on 1809-10-11.
What was Meriwether Lewis known for?
Meriwether Lewis is recorded as a scientific collector, a explorer, a botanical collector, a botanist, a military officer and a politician.
Source

Biographical content adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Source: Wikipedia.

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