Lewis and Clark Facts
Lewis and Clark Picture
Lewis and Clark Facts

Summary: This article provides interesting facts about Meriwether Lewis (August 18, 1774 - October 11, 1809) and William Clark (August 1, 1770 - September 1, 1838). The men were famous for leading the soldiers of the Corps of Discovery on a journey that covered over 7000 miles that lasted two years, four months, and ten days. For additional, comprehensive information refer to the Lewis and Clark Timeline and read about their adventures on specific dates via the Lewis and Clark Journals.
 

Facts about the Lewis and Clark for kids
The following fact sheet provides short, interesting facts about the leaders of the expedition and their voyage of discovery. The major goals of their historic journey of exploration were to:

  • Follow the Missouri River to it’s source and discover it’s tributaries

  • Create maps of the new territories gained in the Louisiana Purchase

  • Discover a water route, the illusive 'Northwest Passage' all the way to the Pacific Ocean

  • Undertake scientific tasks and document descriptions of new plants and animals

  • Learn about the culture and customs of the Native Indians

Facts about the Lewis and Clark
 
Lewis and Clark Facts: 1 The historic expedition was ordered by the President Thomas Jefferson and the US government following the Louisiana Purchase on April 30, 1803.
   
Lewis and Clark Facts: 2 The Louisiana Purchase cost 15 million dollars, about 4 cents per acre, and covered 828,000 square miles.
   
Lewis and Clark Facts: 3 The vast amount of new lands required exploration. President Jefferson arranged for several expeditions that included the Red River Expedition that explored the Southwest, the Zebulon Pike Expedition that explored the Great Plains and the famous Lewis and Clark Expedition.
   
Lewis and Clark Facts: 4 The expedition, under the command of the co-leaders, was to explore the sources of the Missouri River and travel west across the Rocky Mountains, down the River Columbia to the Pacific Ocean.
   
Lewis and Clark Facts: 5 The famous Expedition was undertaken during the years 1804, 1805 and 1806. It began on May 21, 1804 and ended on September 23, 1806. It took 2 years, 4 months, and 10 days.
   
Lewis and Clark Facts: 6 The expedition was run as a military mission. The men recruited for the mission were special volunteers who had the skills to undertake the long expedition of discovery. They were collectively known as the Corps of Discovery.
   
Lewis and Clark Facts: 7 What were the full names of the captains? Meriwether Lewis and William Clark. Meriwether Lewis was born in Albemarle County, Virginia, on August 18, 1774. William Clark was born August 1, 1770 in Caroline county, Virginia.
   
Lewis and Clark Facts: 8 Meriwether Lewis was a close personal friend of President Thomas Jefferson and was Jefferson's private secretary. He was tasked with making celestial observations and classifying the new animals and plants that were discovered on the journey. 173 new plants and 122 species and subspecies of animals were found on the voyage of discovery.
   
Lewis and Clark Facts: 9 William Clark was the younger brother of Revolutionary War hero George Rogers Clark. He served in the Virginia militia in the 1770s, where he first met Meriwether Lewis. He was assigned to chart the maps of the areas that they visited. During the expedition he made about 140 different maps.
   
Lewis and Clark Facts: 10 Meriwether Lewis was educated by private tutors and graduated from Liberty Hall (now Washington and Lee University). William Clark was tutored at home and had no formal education
   
Lewis and Clark Facts: 11 Members of the Corps of Discovery wore uniforms throughout the journey and were subject to daily drills and strict army discipline. The leaders convened a court martial for rule breakers and issued punishments according to the crimes. Two members of the expedition were sent home in disgrace.
   
Lewis and Clark Facts: 12 Following the expedition Meriwether Lewis was appointed governor of the Louisiana Territory. He never married and died alone on October 11, 1809 (aged 35) at Hohenwald, Tennessee. He died of gunshot wounds and is death was attributed to an alleged suicide, or a murder.
   
Lewis and Clark Facts: 13 William Clark married Julia Hancock and the couple had five children. His first wife died, and he then married Harriet Kennerly Radford. His second marriage produced another three children. He was appointed governor of the Missouri Territory and Superintendent of Indian Affairs. He died on September 1, 1838 (aged 68) in St. Louis, Missouri
   

Facts about the Lewis and Clark
Facts about Lewis and Clark for kids
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Facts about Lewis and Clark

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