LEWIS, MERI WETHER

(i 774-1809); explorer and governor of Louisiana Territory; b. Charlottesville, Va.; d. Nashville, Tenn. His family was related to that of George Washington by marriage, and he inherited ample In his youth he engaged in which he abandoned in 1794 to the forces raised by the government to suppre the so-called Rebellion in western Pennsylvania. Afterwards he entered the regular as an ensign and rose to captain. dent Jefferson in 1801 made him private secretary and two years he headed a government expedition with Captain William jnto the virgin regions of the Louisiana territory of over square miles, then about to be from France by the United In 1804 the party followed the to headstreams, cro ed the entered the Columbia river, its sources, pursued its course to Pacific, and reconnoitered much Oregon country. The party began return journey from the Pacific in 1806, and did not reach Washington February the following year. For services the President appointed Governor of Louisiana and awarded a large tract of land out ublic domain. He died mysteriously the cabin of a Tenne ee = Nashville, supposedly by his nd.