# Meriwether Lewis

_American explorer (1774-1809)_

Canonical: https://diginpl.com/people/meriwether-lewis
Last updated: 2026-10-31

> Meriwether Lewis was an American explorer, soldier, politician, and public administrator, best known for his role as the leader of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, also known as the Corps of Discovery, with William Clark.
Their mission was to explore the territory of the Louisiana Purchase, establish trade with, and sovereignty over the natives near the Missouri River, and claim the Pacific Northwest and Oregon Country for the United States before European nations. They also collected scientific data and information on indigenous nations. President Thomas Jefferson appointed him Governor of Upper Louisiana in 1806. He died in 1809 of gunshot wounds, in what was either a murder or suicide.

## Quick facts

- **Born:** 18 August 1774 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q313492#P569))
- **Place of birth:** Albemarle County ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q313492#P19))
- **Died:** 11 October 1809 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q313492#P570))
- **Place of death:** Hickman County ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q313492#P20))
- **Citizenship:** United States ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q313492#P27))
- **Occupation:** explorer; military officer; politician; botanist; botanical collector; scientific collector ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q313492#P106))
- **Positions held:** governor (3 March 1807 – 11 October 1809); Secretary-General to the President (1801–1803) ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q313492#P39))

## Questions

**When was Meriwether Lewis born?**  
Meriwether Lewis was born on 18 August 1774 in Albemarle County.

**What positions has Meriwether Lewis held?**  
Positions held by Meriwether Lewis include: governor (1807–1809); Secretary-General to the President (1801–1803).

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## Sources

- [Wikipedia (English): Meriwether Lewis](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meriwether_Lewis) — [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
- [Wikidata item Q313492](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q313492) — [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- [Image: Meriwether Lewis-Charles Willson Peale.jpg by Charles Willson Peale (Public domain)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Meriwether_Lewis-Charles_Willson_Peale.jpg)

## Licence and attribution

Text from the Wikipedia article Meriwether Lewis, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page's text is shared under the same licence. Facts from Wikidata (CC0). Image: Meriwether Lewis-Charles Willson Peale.jpg — Charles Willson Peale, Public domain.

## Cite this page

"Meriwether Lewis". DigiNepal. Last updated 31 October 2026. https://diginpl.com/people/meriwether-lewis. Retrieved 7 November 2026.