Meriwether Lewis was a family friend of President Thomas Jefferson and served as his secretary. He was assigned as commander of the U.S. Corps of Discovery, whose job it would be to explore new territory, determine the potential of the land, and initiate diplomatic relations with Indians they met. Lewis appointed as co-captain his old army friend William Clark. The Lewis and Clark expedition was gone from November 1803 to September 1806. Meriwether Lewis was a mediocre diplomat, condescending and patronizing to both his Indian advisors and tribes they met along the way. He never readjusted to life away from the frontier and committed suicide in 1809.
Web sites
- Museum of History
- National Lewis & Clark Bicentennial Commemoration
- Public Broadcasting System
- Letter from Thomas Jefferson
- The Lewis and Clark Journey of Discovery
Catalog
Search the library's catalog for Meriwether Lewis
Databases
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