Meriwether Lewis Speech free essay sample

We exist in a world where there are many heroes and heroines, were people showcase their courage, bravery, skill, and curiosity, where many aren’t afraid to take a leap outside of their boundaries. These are the people that we remember, they leave legacies, and they make an impression in our world. I happen to be one of those people who took a chance; for that is why I’ve become one of the most remembered people in all of American history. Hello, my name is Meriwether Lewis. Most people probably already know that I was a co-leader in the Corps of Discovery, but many do not know my entire life story. For that reason I’ll start where it all began. I was born on a warm summer day in August of 1774 in the small county of Albemarle. I was born and grew up in the community of Ivy, Virginia along with my sisters Jane and Lucinda and my step-siblings Rueben, John Jr. We will write a custom essay sample on Meriwether Lewis Speech or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page , and Mary Garland. I am the son of Lt. William Lewis and Lucy Meriwether. I never had the privilege to spend much time with my father as a child. My father died of pneumonia in 1779. A year later my mother married Captain John Marks, and we all moved to Georgia in May of 1780. While I lived in Goosepond, Georgia, I enhanced my skills as a hunter and naturalist. I had a large dose of curiosity as a child and still do today. I still remember that chilled January night when I ventured out of the house to hunt. A mile into my walk, a blizzard struck with tremendous force. When the storm finally halted, I realized how completely lost I was. My parents found me that morning. I had never seen them so furious in all my life. Even though I stopped hunting at night, I was still quite fascinated with natural history; little did I know that this minute interest would develop into a lifelong passion. When I turned thirteen, I was sent back to Virginia for an education by numerous private tutors. My Uncle Nicholas became my new guardian. Many years later, in 1793, I graduated from the college of Liberty Hall. In 1795, I joined the U. S. Army, commissioned as a Lieutenant, where I served until 1801. Among my commanding officers was William Clark, who later would become my co-leader in the Corps of Discovery. That same year, I was appointed as an aide by President Thomas Jefferson, who my father knew well. When Jefferson began to plan for an expedition through the recently purchased Louisiana Territory, he chose me to lead the expedition. After the Louisiana Purchase, Jefferson wanted to get an accurate sense of the new land and its resources. Our exploration was the first transcontinental expedition to the Pacific Coast by the United States. During our two-year exploration, we encountered many hardships and rewards. I also developed a great relationship with William Clark and Sacagawea. I can remember that day when she helped us cross the Rocky Mountains. At one point we had an encounter with a group of Indians. Of course, Sacagawea translated for us. It turned out that the chief of that tribe was her own brother, who she had not seen in over eight years. He was so pleased to see her that he let us use their horses in order to help us cross the Rocky Mountains. We would not have completed our expedition if I weren’t for those few horses. We returned in 1806, bringing with us an immense amount of knowledge about the region, as well as numerous plant and animal specimens. I wrote everything down in multiple journals like this one. Feel free to have a look. Because of our success, we brought home with us an awareness of a rich and beautiful part of the continent. This awareness is what helped the U. S. develop and prosper for years to come. Years after our expedition, I continued to research the U. S. lands. I planned on publishing my journals too. On October 10th, 1809 I stopped at an inn called Grinder’s Stand, about 70 miles southwest of Nashville, Tennessee. In the predawn hours of October 11th, the innkeeper heard gunshots and found me badly wounded, with gunshots to my head and abdomen. I died shortly after sunrise. Many people consider that my death was a suicide. Others are convinced that it was murder. Centuries later, my death still remains a mystery. Even though I may have had an unresolved ending, I am still remembered for all of my contributions to the U. S. I gave the U. S. a great awareness of our unknown land. When I died I left a legacy of curiosity, knowledge, determination, and bravery that is still an inspiration today. May my legacy live on through you and teach you that with determination and a little curiosity, anything is possible.