Meriwether lewis biography
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Meriwether Lewis (August 18, October 11, ) was a soldier, an explorer, and a personal secretary to Thomas Jefferson.
When the contentious election of had been decided and Thomas Jefferson prepared to assume the presidency, he knew whom he wanted as his private secretary. Within days of the final balloting in February , Jefferson posted a letter to General James Wilkinson, commander of the U.S. Army, and under the same cover one to "Lieut. Meriwether Lewis, not knowing where he may be." Jefferson gave Wilkinson specific reasons for seeking the young Lewis. He referenced Lewis's knowledge of the frontier and the military and he mentioned "a personal acquaintance with [Lewis], arising from his being of my neighborhood."[1]
Indeed, Meriwether Lewis and the extensive Lewis and Meriwether families were from Jefferson's "neighborhood" in the central Piedmont region of Virginia. Meriwether Lewis was born on his father's farm, Locust Hill, located approximately 10 miles west of Monticello, on August 18, His father, William Lewis, and mother, Lucy Meriwether, were second cousins, and by naming their eldest son for his mother's family, they signaled his association with two very prominent families of Central Virginia. Both families were well known to Jefferson. Two of Jefferson's s
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Meriwether Lewis
American explorer and Governor (–)
Meriwether Lewis | |
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Portrait by Charles Wilson Peale, c. | |
| In office March 3, &#;– October 11, | |
| Appointed by | Thomas Jefferson |
| Preceded by | James Wilkinson |
| Succeeded by | Benjamin Howard |
| In office – | |
| President | Thomas Jefferson |
| Preceded by | Corps commissioned |
| Succeeded by | Corps disbanded |
| In office – | |
| President | Thomas Jefferson |
| Preceded by | William Smith Shaw |
| Succeeded by | Lewis Harvie |
| Born | ()August 18, Locust Hill Plantation, Albemarle County, Colony of Virginia(now Ivy, Virginia) |
| Died | October 11, () (aged&#;35) Hickman County, Tennessee, U.S. (now near Hohenwald, Tennessee) |
| Cause&#;of&#;death | Gunshot wounds |
| Occupation | Explorer, soldier, politician |
| Signature | |
| Branch/service | Infantry |
| Years&#;of service | – |
| Rank | Captain |
| Unit | Legion of the United States 1st United States Infantry Regiment |
| Commands | Corps of Discovery; see above. |
Meriwether Lewis (August 18, – October 11, ) 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
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Meriwether Lewis & William Clark
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