Lewis, Meriwether

Lewis, Meriwether (1774-1809), American explorer.

With William Clark, Lewis led an expedition on a journey across America from the Missouri River to the Pacific coast from 1804-6.

They covered more than 3417 miles (5,500 kilometers) by land and river and came back with valuable information about plants, minerals, wild-life and the Indians of the region.

Essential reading: Stephen Ambrose Undaunted Courage : Meriwether Lewis, Thomas Jefferson, and the Opening of the American West