Meriwether Lewis was born August 18th 1774 in Albemarle County, Virginia at the home of his parents Charles and Lucy Meriwether Lewis on the Locust Hill plantation. Meriwether’s father died when Meriwether was only five years old. He then went to Georgia for a few years only to return to Virginia to run the family farm and to continue this education. In 1794 Meriwether Lewis joined the Army and while assigned to the elite riflemen sharpshooters he met Captain William Clark and became long time friends. Meriwether soon became a Captain and worked in the army as an infantry officer and paymaster.

When Thomas Jefferson became President he asked Captain Lewis to join him in Washington as Private Secretary. It was during this time that Jefferson and Captain Lewis worked on the Expedition to search out a water route to the Pacific Ocean. Meriwether Lewis turned to his old friend William Clark to help with the expedition and soon the Corps of Discovery was on their way.

After the Expedition Meriwether Lewis was named Governor of Louisiana Territory. His bouts with depression took there toll and on October 11th, 1809 on his way to Washington to meet with Thomas Jefferson, Captain Meriwether Lewis took his own life.