In 1826, he accepted an appointment to the United States Military Academy and graduated 23rd of 42 cadets in the Class of 1830. Meriwether Lewis was chosen, with William Clark, to lead an American overland expedition from the eastern United States to the Pacific Ocean in 1804. That question hangs heavily over the remains of historic explorer Meriwether Lewis. Always prone to dark moods, Lewis began to have a drinking problem and neglected his duties as governor. Lewis had five siblings: Reuben Lewis, Jane Lewis, Lucinda Lewis, and half-siblings John Hastings Marks and Mary Garland Marks, from his mother's second marriage. While traveling through Tennessee on October 10th, it began to rain heavily and two of the pack horses fled into the woods. Together they explored the lands west of the Mississippi. He was exactly eight months old when Paul Revere made the legendary ride that signalled the beginning of the War of Independence, and the birth of the new United States of America, which Lewis was to serve with distinction. Oct 11 Meriwether Lewis, American explorer, soldier and public administrator who helped lead the Lewis and Clark Expedition, dies of gunshot wounds at 35 under mysterious circumstances that could have been murder or suicide along the Natchez Trace in Tennessee at an inn called Grinder's Stand Lewis was born on August 18, 1774, near Ivy, Virginia. Lewis was a former soldier and personal secretary to President Thomas Jefferson, and Jefferson was the prime mover behind the expedition. A Net Inceptions project. William Clark was half of the famous exploration team Lewis and Clark, who explored and mapped the unknown lands west of the Mississippi River. Meriwether Lewis Death. Meriwether Lewis teamed up with William Clark to form the historic Lewis and Clark expedition. 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 journey. Their journey was famously known as the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Sacagawea was a Shoshone interpreter best known for being the only woman on the Lewis and Clark Expedition into the American West. He explored and mapped the American Northwest with his partner William Clark.. Before Fame. Jefferson soon made Lewis another offer — to lead an expedition into the lands west of the Mississippi, which he did after enlisting William Clark. Name: Meriwether Lewis Date of Birth: August 18, 1774 Date of Death: October 11, 1809 Place of Birth: Virginia Birth Family: Lt. William Lewis and Lucy Meriwether Marriage/Spouse: Never Married Education: Educated by private tutors. James Polk was the 11th president of the United States, known for his territorial expansion of the nation chiefly through the Mexican-American War. https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/meriwether-lewis-4983.php Joining us are the authors of that new biography. Meriwether Lewis departed St. Louis on September 4, 1809, with his servant John Pernier. Already eager to know more about these lands, Jefferson's interest in the area increased with the purchase of more than 800 thousand square miles of territory from France in 1803, an acquisition is known as the Louisiana Purchase. History of the Amber Room and Its Mysterious... Celtic Goddess Brigid and Her Enduring Deity. One version of her story said she was alone when she heard the gunshots, however, in other versions, her children were with her. Almost immediately, everyone believed the death of Meriwether Lewis to be a suicide. In 1809, Meriwether Lewis—famed member of the Lewis and Clark Expedition—stopped at a log cabin along the perilous Natchez Trace trail. By the age of eight, he was already showing the characteristics of courage and resourcefulness that stood him in good stead when he later commanded Jefferson’s great expedition to explore the Missouri and Columbian Rivers from 1804 to 1806. Along the way, Lewis kept a detailed journal and collected samples of plants and animals he encountered. Once reaching the nation's capital, Lewis received payment for his courageous efforts. Jefferson asked Lewis to gather information about the plants, animals and Indigenous peoples of the region. He had been on his way to Washington, D.C., at the time. He originally intended to make the journey by sea from New Orleans, but he was disturbed about reports of enemy British ships along the route. This group — often called the Corps of Discovery by historians — faced nearly every obstacle and hardship imaginable on their trip. Historic Mysteries is an Amazon Associate and earns from qualifying purchases. That doctor stated that the wounds were consistent with that of murder. p. 59. Or had he taken a late-night stroll outside the inn and been overcome by thieves? He preferred clearing a path through the wilderness over the mountains of paperwork such a job required. Lewis and his men faced great danger when a group of Blackfeet Indians sought to steal from the corps in late July. And that’s where and when Lewis’s downward spiral began. One of the "Big Six" leaders of the civil rights movement in the 1960s, John Lewis continued to fight for people's rights since joining Congress in 1987. In late 1809, he decided to go to Washington DC to settle matters in person. He decided to make the journey overland. Meriwether Lewis was born on August 18, 1774, at Locust Hill plantation in Albemarle County, Virginia. Historic Mysteries provides captivating articles on archaeology, history, and unexplained mysteries. Even his fellow explorer William Clark said that “I fear the weight of his mind has overcome him.”. Lewis had no family of his own, never having found a wife or fathered children. They braved dangerous waters and harsh weather and endured hunger, illness, injury and fatigue. He had been on his way to Washington, D.C., at the time. Meriwether Lewis (August 18, 1774 – October 11, 1809) was an American explorer, soldier, 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, whose mission was to explore the territory of the Louisiana Purchase. A new biography of Lewis now offers a third theory of his untimely death. ^ Fritz, Harry W. (2004). Coincidentally, Lewis was born within riding distance of President Thomas Jefferson’s home, Monticello. In addition to helping to map the U.S., he served as governor of Louisiana. This much we know: on September 4, 1809, Lewis, then governor of Louisiana Territory, left St. Louis for Washington, D.C., to take care of some personal and professional business. He wrote, "I fear O! One version of the story states that she went into Lewis’s room immediately and found him bleeding from two gunshot wounds, one in the head. Doug MacGowan lives on the San Francisco peninsula with his wife, a dog, and far too many cats. She told yet another story that Lewis crawled outside after his injuries. Most historians believe he committed suicide, while a few have contended that he was murdered. 1 Information on the rapper 2 Lyrics 2.1 Verse 1: 2.2 Verse 2: Meriwether Lewis was born on August 18th, 1774, in Ivy, Virginia. Occupation: Explorer, Governor of Louisiana Territory Born: August 18, 1774, Albemarle County, VA Died: October 11, 1809, near Nashville, TN Legacy: The Lewis and Clark Expedition traversed the country through nearly 8,000 miles, helping consolidate America's claims to the West. First, I want to write the clearest account ever published of the last days of Meriwether Lewis, to assemble the facts as far as we can reconstruct them, to provide all readers with a complete, accurate, and reliable account of the events of September 4-October 11, 1809, and their aftermath. He graduated from Liberty Hall (now Washington and Lee University). On the way back in 1806, Lewis and Clark split up to explore more territory and look for faster routes home. © 2009-2021 Historic Mysteries. Explorers Meriwether Lewis and William Clark blazed a trail west of the Mississippi River in the early 1800s. Many towns held special events to herald the explorers' return as they passed through. Lewis also tried to publish the journals that he and Clark wrote during their great adventure. Meriwether Lewis was chosen, with William Clark, to lead an American overland expedition from the eastern United States to the Pacific Ocean in 1804. The death of Meriwether Lewis in the fall of 1809 has long been a subject shrouded in mystery and controversy. © 2021 Biography and the Biography logo are registered trademarks of A&E Television Networks, LLC. The next month, Lewis was shot in the thigh by one of his own men during a hunt. 623, citing Pioneer Cemetery, Hohenwald, Lewis County, Tennessee, USA ; Maintained by Find A Grave . His parents, Lt. William Lewis of Locust Hill and Lucy Meriwether, were of Welsh and English ancestry, respectively. Nobody knows and the question is still alive today. ISBN 0-313-31661-9 Two Blackfeet were killed in the ensuing conflict. But what happened in the following days is a mystery. Interesting history topics are just a click away. William Clark’s 1809 Memo(Journal) From William Clark’s 1809 Travel Journal – Virginia Trip – A second look * information from pages 68 & 69, 72 in the back of the ledger – these pages may have been compiled after the events of the journal itself Greenwood Publishing Group. Knowing the reputation of the Natchez Trace, some believed he could have been the victim of a robbery. Along with his salary and 1,600 acres of land, he was named governor of the Louisiana Territory. The Corps of Discovery reached the Pacific Ocean in November of 1805. Lewis died Oct. 11, 1809, 70 mi. In January of 1793 the American Philosophical Society of Philadelphia accepted the proposal of one of its leading members, Thomas Jefferson, to send an overland expedition in search of the North… She would later state he stayed inside for the entire time. Another version says that she waited two hours, out of fear, before investigating the cause of the gunfire. Career: American explorer, soldier and politician D 11 oct 1809; Welsh ancestry. 1. He was the son of William and Lucy Meriwether Lewis. Lewis also advanced scientific knowledge through his careful work detailing numerous plants and animals that were previously unknown to Europeans. Lewis Howard Latimer was an inventor and draftsman best known for his contributions to the patenting of the light bulb and the telephone. His work inspired many others to follow in his footsteps and created great interest in the region. Could Mrs. Grinder have killed him and taken the money? The issue is going through legal channels, and until a decision is made, we may never know if this courageous explorer died by his own hand or by that of another. They want his remains exhumed so that they can be analyzed by modern forensic scientists. D … Lewis was a former soldier and personal secretary to President Thomas Jefferson, and Jefferson was the prime mover behind the expedition. Meriwether Lewis (August 18, 1774 - October 11, 1809) Meriwether was the first born son of Lucy Meriwether and William Lewis. He is buried near Grinder’s Stand, and in 1848 a memorial was erected in his memory. Lewis died on October 11, 1809, at an inn near Nashville, Tennessee. All rights reserved. Meriwether Lewis was found mortally wounded on October 11, 1809. As any school history textbook will tell you, Lewis (and his fellow explorer William Clark) made a two-year journey into the northwest of the United States in search of a water route to the Pacific Ocean, the fabled Northwest Passage.