Meriwether Lewis: A Biography

by Richard H. Dillon

Meriwether Lewis was undoubtedly the greatest pathfinder this country has ever had. The crucial expedition that he and William Clark led up the Missouri River opened up the American West. This award-winning biography chronicles that bold voyage and probes the lesser known aspects of Lewis's life: his youth in Virginia, his close relationship with Thomas Jefferson, his turbulent career as governor of the Louisiana Territory, and his tragic and mysterious death at 35. Detailed maps of the expedition's route included.

Genres: History, Biography

364 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1965

Reviews

[Julie Manthey · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an excellent biography on Meriwether Lewis. Very thoroughly researched.

[Patrick · Rating 1 out of 5]

In general a very good book, but Dillon goes awry with his passionate and unconvincing case that Lewis did not commit suicide. Dillon's evidence is thin, his logic is faulty, and his passion betrays a bias inappropriate for a biographer. This fault raises, in my mind, serious questions about the reliability of much of the rest of the book.