Timeline Description: Best known as the leader for the Lewis and Clark expedition, Meriwether was a politician, a soldier, and a public administrator. With very little formal education, Lewis, however, was interested in science and spent the expedition collecting scientific data.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| August 18, 1774 | Lewis was born Lewis was born to William Lewis and Lucy Meriwether. He lived with his parents in Albemarle County, Virginia. |
| 1787 | Lewis learned from the Cherokee(Childhood-1787) Lewis spent his years as a boy learning how to hunt and practice outdoor skills. His interest in natural history came from living so close to Cherokee territory and often wandering over there to hunt. They taught him about medicinal herbs and berries. |
| 1793 | Lewis graduated After having no formal education until age thirteen, Lewis' mother and stepfather sent him to school. He graduated from Washington and Lee University. |
| 1794 | The Whiskey Rebellion Lewis, upon graduation, joined the Virginia militia. He was sent to assist in putting down the Whiskey Rebellion. |
| 1795 | Lewis joined the army After the Whiskey Rebellion, Lewis was commissioned as an Ensign. He became captain in 1800. One of his commanding officers happened to be William Clark. |
| April 1, 1801 | Lewis received a promotion President Thomas Jefferson appointed Lewis to be his aide. Lewis moved into the presidential mansion. His job was to complied information on personnel and politics of the U.S. Army. |
| 1803 | The expedition After the Louisiana Purchase, Jefferson wanted a direct and practical water communication across the continent and an accurate vision of the new land and resources. Lewis was asked by the President to lead the first transcontinental expedition. |
| 1806 | The end of the expedition Lewis and Clark returned from the pacific with a wealth of information, maps, and plant and animal specimens. |
| 1807 | Lewis was appointed governor After his return from the expedition, Lewis was appointed governor of the Louisiana Territory by President Jefferson. Jefferson rewarded him with 1,600 acres of land. They also agreed to publish the Corps of Discovery journals. |
| August 2, 1808 | Lewis petitioned the Grand Lodge Lewis was a Freemason, raised in the Albemarle, Virginia lodge. His petition requested permission to establish a St. Louis lodge. |
| September 16, 1808 | Lewis served as first Master of the new lodge Lodge No. 111 was warranted and he was recommended to serve as the first Master. |
| September 3, 1809 | Lewis left for Washington, D.C. With his journals in hand for publishing, Lewis set out to the capitol to assist in the resolution of bad drafts he had written as governor. His intention was to travel by ship, but changed his mind and traveled overland. |
| October 10, 1809 | Lewis wrote a letter to President Jefferson According to his letter, Lewis stopped at an inn for the night, had dinner, and left for his room. The innkeeper stated that gunshots were heard in the early morning. Lewis was found injured badly, dying after sunrise. |
| October 1809 | Lewis was buried Meriwether Lewis was buried in an unmarked grave. Wilson, friend of Lewis and well known ornithologist erected a fence and marker for his gravesite. |
| May 14, 2004 | The Lewis and Clark expedition was celebrated Two stamps were created with Lewis and Clark to commemorate the expedition. A booklet was created that took readers on a journey of the expedition route.It is still unclear whether Lewis' death was a suicide or a murder. Regardless, Lewis left behind a military legacy and plenty of scientific discoveries. |