Clark, George Rogers (1752-1818)

American military leader and explorer. He was made commander of the Virginia frontier militia at the outbreak of the American Revolution 1775. During 1778-79 he led an attack on the American Indian allies of the British to the west of the Ohio River and founded a settlement at the site of Louisville, Kentucky.

Clark was born near Charlottesville, Virginia, and spent his early adult years surveying and exploring Kentucky. In 1776 he moved to Kentucky and became one of its delegates to the Virginia legislature. In the War of Independence he defeated Hamilton at Fort Sackville 1779; for this Clark received a grant of land from the US government. After the war he remained in the Northwest Territory as Indian commissioner, leading an attack on the Wabash 1786. After leaving office, he accepted commissions from the French and Spanish colonial authorities.