Lewis, Meriwether

Meriwether (1774-1809), an American explorer. He was born near Charlottesville, Virginia, August 18, 1774, and died near Nashville, Tennessee, October 8, 1809. He was a private in the force of troops enlisted to suppress the whiskey rebellion in western Pennsylvania in 1794, and later entered the regular army. In 1801-3 he served as Jefferson's private secretary. Jointly with Captain William Clark, he commanded the famous Lewis and Clark Expedition to Oregon. On his return he received a grant of land in Louisiana and was appointed governor. He was a man of intelligence, enterprise, and patriotism. See Clark; Oregon