Lewis, Meriwether (1774-1809)

US explorer. With William Clark, he led a US government survey, later known as the Lewis and Clark expedition, across North America from St Louis to the mouth of the Columbia River 1804-06. The explorers were among the first to chart an overland route to the Pacific Ocean north of Mexico, and opened up a large amount of land and resources for the USA.

Lewis was born in Virginia. An experienced hunter and forester, he became private secretary to President Thomas Jefferson, and was commissioned in 1803 to explore the land gained from France under the Louisiana Purchase (1803), and find a route to the Pacific. He chose his friend Clark to accompany him. Lewis was rewarded with the governorship of the Louisiana Territory. His sudden death, near Nashville, Tennessee, has been ascribed to suicide or more probably murder.