Captain Meriwether Lewis was born on 18th August 1774 in Virginia and he died on 11th October 1809 (aged 35 years). As the leader of the Lewis and Clark Expedition his mission was to explore Louisiana Territory. He collected scientific data on indigenous nations, the flora and fauna of the area. Captain Lewis and Clark appears on the gold dollars minted for Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition and a 3-cent stamp on the 150th anniversary. Lewis had no formal education until he was 13 years of age, but during his time in Georgia he enhanced his skills as a hunter and outdoorsman. He became interested in natural history, which would develop into a lifelong passion.
Do you know: The state flower of Montana, a woodpecker and a river are all named after Captain Lewis.
