Meriwether Lewis

     Meriwether Lewis was born on August 18, 1774, in Virginia. He joined the army when he was twenty. When Thomas Jefferson became president, he hired Lewis as his personal secretary. Lewis earned Jefferson’s trust. The president chose Lewis as the leader of his expedition. All along the way, Lewis collected plants, animals, and minerals for study. He took his dog, Seaman, on the trip. Seaman helped to scare bears away from the Corps of Discovery. After the trip, Lewis became governor of the new territory of Louisiana.