Meriwether Lewis

Meriwether Lewis Postage Stamp

Frontier Man

Meriwether Lewis was born on August 18, 1774, near Charlottesville, Virginia. Lewis grew up among the forests and wilderness of the Shenandoah Valley and developed a love of hunting and exploring. Lewis became a soldier at an early age and fought in the Whiskey Rebellion of 1794. He soon became an officer in the Army and battled the Native Americans in the Northwest Territory of the new nation. Lewis became very educated about the Native Americans and even learned some of their languages.

Jefferson's Personal Secretary

As a neighbor and friend of the Lewis family, Thomas Jefferson appointed Meriwether Lewis as his personal secretary. He prepared Lewis for two years to explore the lands acquired in the Louisiana Purchase. Lewis studied plants, animals, and navigation at the University of Pennsylvania in preparation. Lewis invited William Clark to co-lead the expedition. Although Congress authorized Lewis as the captain of the expedition, he insisted that he and Clark be considered co-captains during the journey.

The Expedition

Lewis and Clark spent over two years exploring the new frontier, mapping the terrain, and learning about and trading with various Indian tribes. Lewis was considered an outstanding leader and was highly respected by the members of the Corps of Discovery. His journal, which recorded many (not all) of the events of the expedition, is one of the most important documents in American history. As Lewis and Clark made their way west, they were the first to confirm that there was no direct water passage across the continent (Northwest Passage).

Painting by Charles Marion Russell showing The Corps of Discovery meeting the Chinook on the Columbia River
Painting by Charles Marion Russell showing the Corps of Discovery meeting the Chinook on the Columbia River

Mysterious Death

After successfully establishing Fort Clatsop, Oregon, and after discovering over 300 new species of animals and plants throughout the Great Plains and western mountains, the pair returned. Meriwether Lewis was named the new governor of the Louisiana Territory. On October 11, 1809, Lewis was on his way to Washington D.C., on the famed Natchez Trace when he mysteriously died at a hotel.

Discussion Questions

  1. How did Lewis’s background prepare him for leading the expedition?
  2. Why was it important to Lewis that Clark be treated as a co-captain?
  3. What contributions did Lewis make to American science and exploration?
  4. Why do you think Lewis’s death is still considered a mystery today?
  5. How might American history have been different if Meriwether Lewis had lived longer and continued his role in shaping the western territories?

Frontier Man

Meriwether Lewis was born on August 18, 1774, near Charlottesville, Virginia. Raised in the wilderness of the Shenandoah Valley, he developed a strong love for hunting and exploring. Lewis joined the military early, fighting in the Whiskey Rebellion and later in conflicts with Native Americans in the Northwest Territory, where he gained valuable knowledge of native languages and cultures.

Jefferson’s Personal Secretary

Thomas Jefferson, a neighbor and friend of the Lewis family, appointed Lewis as his personal secretary. When Jefferson planned an expedition to explore the Louisiana Purchase, he chose Lewis to lead it. Lewis prepared for two years, studying navigation, botany, and zoology. He invited William Clark to co-lead the journey, insisting they be treated as equals despite only he being formally recognized as captain.

The Expedition

The Lewis and Clark Expedition lasted over two years and explored vast areas of the American frontier. Lewis’s leadership and scientific curiosity helped guide the Corps of Discovery through dangerous terrain, establish peaceful relations with many tribes, and map the western lands. His journal is considered one of the most valuable records of early American exploration.

Mysterious Death

After the expedition, Lewis was appointed governor of the Louisiana Territory. On October 11, 1809, while traveling along the Natchez Trace, he died under mysterious circumstances at a roadside inn—his death remains a subject of debate to this day.

 
Meriwether Lewis Activities
Meriwether Lewis - Fact or Fiction - Lexile 1050
Lewis and Clark Printable Reading Comprehension (Main Idea Focus) - Lexile 1050
Lewis and Clark Online Reading Comprehension - Lexile 1050
Comparing and Contrasting Meriwether Lewis and William Clark
Lewis and Clark Online Cloze Reading
Lewis and Clark Correct-me Passage
Dynamic Duos (Writing)
The Climb (Writing)
The Lost Journal Pages of Meriwether Lewis (Writing and Drawing)