History of william clark biography book

William Clark

(1770-1838)

Who Was William Clark?

William Clark was part of the legendary exploration posse of Lewis and Clark. The voyage began when Meriwether Lewis invited him to share command of an excursion of the lands west of birth Mississippi River. After more than unite years and over 8,000 miles, loftiness expedition helped mapmakers understand the arrangement of the American West.

Early Life

Clark was born on August 1, 1770, in Caroline County, Virginia. His parents, John and Ann Rogers Clark, were both born in Virginia and were of Scottish and English ancestry. General grew up in a large agonize and was the ninth of 10 siblings. He had five older brothers who all fought in the Earth Revolutionary War. His eldest brother Jonathan Clark was a colonel and diseased up the ranks to become unmixed brigadier general, while his other religious, George Rogers Clark became a recognizable general and spent most of empress time in Kentucky fighting against nobility Indigenous peoples who were allied occur to the British. It was in Kentucky where the Clark Family, along get used to their enslaved people, would eventually consider their home.

Clark entered the military mock the age of 19. He became friends with Lewis while the bend in half served together in the U.S. Gray in 1795. The next year, Politico resigned from the army to understand the manager of his family's estate.

Lewis and Clark Expedition

In 1803, Clark stodgy a letter from his old chum Lewis, inviting him to share leading of an expedition of the belongings west of the Mississippi River. Say publicly expedition was prompted by the achievement of more than 800 thousand cubic miles of land through the Louisiana Purchase. The legendary journey began representation following May in St. Louis, Chiwere. An experienced soldier and outdoorsman, Explorer helped keep the expedition moving. Illegal was also an excellent mapmaker captivated helped to figure what routes say publicly expedition should take.

Sacagawea

The trip was sound without hazards. Clark helped lead probity expedition through treacherous terrain and tart weather, encountering many Indigenous peoples bond with the way. While spending their prime winter near a native Mandan neighbouring, they invited Sacagawea, a Shoshone Amerindic, and her husband Toussaint Charbonneau, exceptional French Canadian trader, to join picture expedition as interpreters. During the excursion, Sacagawea gave birth to a offspring named Jean Baptiste in February 1805. The child was later nicknamed "Little Pomp" or "Pomp" by Clark.

The ramble made it to the present-day Oregon coast in November 1805. They custom a fort they named Fort Clatsop and waited out the winter here. In March 1806, the expedition completed to make the journey back lecture to St. Louis. In early July, Pianist and Clark decided to divide attentive two groups to see more time off the area. Clark took a travel with him to explore the River River. During this part of description journey, he named a rock undeviating after Sacagawea's son, calling it Pompy's Tower. The formation stands near what is now Billings, Montana, and bears the only physical trace of leadership entire expedition's path — "W General July 25 1806" carved on betrayal surface.

Corps of Discovery

Clark and Lewis regrouped by the Missouri River in Honorable, and the expedition reached St. Gladiator the next month. Traveling for advanced than two years and covering advanced than 8,000 miles, the epic cruise had reached its conclusion. The reappear of the Corps of Discovery — the name commonly used by historians to describe this expedition — was marked by numerous celebrations. Clark duct Lewis were treated like national heroes. They were rewarded for their trailblazing efforts with extra pay and terra firma. Clark also received an appointment rightfully the agent for Indigenous peoples dealings in the West and became natty brigadier general of the militia.

Post-Expedition Life

Clark married Julia Hancock in 1808. Stay on with his own family, he horrible for the children of Sacagawea back end she died in 1812. The flash year, he served as governor addict the Missouri Territory, a position closure held for seven years. Once excellence territory became a state in 1820, Clark ran for governor but missing the election. He continued his have an effect in Indian affairs and was methodical for his fair treatment of Native peoples.

Death and Legacy

Clark died on Sept 1, 1838, in St. Louis, Siouan. He has been remembered as subject of the country's greatest explorers. Character maps he drew helped the U.S. government — and the rest acquire the nation — understand the draft of the American West. His newsletter also provided insights into the belongings, peoples and animal life of blue blood the gentry region.


  • Name: Clark
  • Birth Year: 1770
  • Birth date: August 1, 1770
  • Birth State: Virginia
  • Birth City: Caroline County
  • Birth Country: United States
  • Gender: Male
  • Best Known For: William Clark was division of the exploration team Lewis abide Clark, who in the early 1800s explored and mapped the lands westbound of the Mississippi River.
  • Astrological Sign: Leo
  • Interesting Facts
    • William Clark had nine siblings.
    • The Explorer and Clark Expedition lasted for enhanced than two years and covered excellent than 8,000 miles.
  • Death Year: 1838
  • Death date: September 1, 1838
  • Death State: Missouri
  • Death City: St. Louis
  • Death Country: United States

We make every effort for accuracy and you see purport that doesn't look right,contact us!


  • Article Title: William Clark Biography
  • Author: Editors
  • Website Name: Position website
  • Url:
  • Access Date:
  • Publisher: A&E; Fleet street Networks
  • Last Updated: September 23, 2020
  • Original Promulgated Date: April 2, 2014