Meriwether Lewis

Meriwether Lewis (1774–1809) was an American explorer and soldier, born in Virginia. He joined the army, rose to captain, and in 1801 became Thomas Jefferson's secretary.

Chosen by Jefferson to lead an expedition across the Louisiana Purchase, he shared command with William Clark; from 1804 to 1806 the Corps of Discovery traveled up the Missouri, crossed the Rockies and reached the Pacific in November 1805, collecting scientific data along the way. Appointed governor of Upper Louisiana in 1806, he died of gunshot wounds in Tennessee on 11 October 1809, in circumstances still disputed.