Lewis, Meriwether (1774–1809), a United States explorer and administrator. During 1804–06 Lewis and William Clark led an expedition to explore the uncharted lands of the American Northwest. The party traveled from St. Louis to the Pacific Ocean and back again, a distance of 8,000 miles (13,000 km).
Lewis was born near Charlottesville, Virginia. In 1794 he enlisted in the local militia to put down the Whiskey Rebellion, joining the regular army afterwards. He was President Thomas Jefferson's private secretary from 1801 to 1803. Jefferson appointed Lewis governor of Louisiana Territory in 1807. Lewis died under mysterious circumstances while returning to Washington on public business.
