“So Hard to Die”: A Physician and a Psychologist Explore the Mystery of Meriwether Lewis’s Death

by David J. Peck, Marti E. Peck

Meriwether Lewis, commander of the famed Lewis and Clark Expedition that explored the newly purchased Louisiana Territory from 1804-06, returned home from this perilous journey with every hope as well as his country's expectations of a bright and productive future. Yet within three years, the 35-year-old Lewis was dead in a lonely inn along the Natchez Trace in rural Tennessee, the victim of two gunshots. Various medical and psychological theories have been proposed by historians and others to account for his mysterious death, which was originally reported as a suicide. The authors of "So Hard to Die" provide an in-depth analysis of the various theories that still swirl around his death and draw on their professional backgrounds as a physician and a clinical psychologist to vividly and convincingly explain the mystery of Lewis's death.

Genres: History

551 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 5, 2021

About the author

Dr. David J Peck, a San Diego based physician has authored two books on the famed Lewis and Clark Expedition. His first, OR PERISH IN THE ATTEM{PT (Bison Books-Univ. of Nebraska Press 2011) has achieved the status of the "go to" book on medicine and the famed expedition. His latest book, "SO HARD TO DIE--A PHYSICIAN AND A PSYCHOLOGIST EXPLORE THE MYSTERY OF MERIWETHER LEWIS'S DEATH (2021), was written with his wife, Dr. Marti Peck, a clinical psychologist and adult psychoanalyst. "So Hard to Die" is the authoritative and definitive analysis of the mysterious death of Meriwether Lewis at the age of 35, a victim of gunshot wounds. Originally reported as a suicide, controversy still swirls around suicide vs. murder, with multiple erroneous theories having been presented as "fact" over the past 50 years. The Drs. Peck have clarified and commented extensively on Lewis's death as well as other author's theories.

Reviews

[Jean · Rating 3 out of 5]

The authors Dr. David Peck and Dr. Marti Peck use a broad brush to explore their theories about the untimely death of explorer Meriwether Lewis and to discount the controversial theory that he was murdered, along with other theories about diseases he may have had during the last months of his life. A reading of this book definitely shows more reason for suicide than for murder.

Dr. David Peck is a medical doctor, and Dr. Marti Peck is a psychiatrist. David's chapters show the extent of alcohol consumption during the 18th and 19th centuries (much higher than today's average), and describe the often toxic cures that 19th century doctors prescribed for their patients. Lewis and Clark's Corps of Discovery carried many of these so-called medicines and plenty of whiskey on their trek to the Pacific Ocean from St. Louis. David also describes how a person (Lewis) could have survived his two gunshot wounds for several hours, depending on the trajectory of bullets into the body.

Dr. Marti Peck's chapters on psychoanalysis of Lewis are, in turns, scientific and imaginative. She imagines psychoanalytic interviews with Lewis, based on known facts and many of his own quotes in his journals and letters. Her analysis of Lewis is based on Freudian classifications and interview methods.

Bottom line from both authors is that, following the heroic and celebrated exploration, Lewis suffered burdens of a job he was unfit for-- the governorship of the Louisiana Territory, assigned to him by President Thomas Jefferson. At the same time, Lewis was expected to publish his journals, and he was in financial straits due to non-payment of expenses he incurred on the expedition as well as in his role of governor. His vulnerable self-esteem was threatened along with financial ruin.

The book gives ample evidence that Lewis soothed his distraught emotions with alcohol, even to being held in house arrest by a knowledgeable boat captain who realized Lewis's dangerous mental condition, on the way to Washington DC to address the financial upheavals. David also shows evidence to discount diseases such as malaria and syphilis that other authors have suspected.

The story of Meriwether Lewis always ends in tragedy, and any reader must feel empathy and sorrow that such a brave, talented, well-meaning young man, at age 35, was so distraught that he took the drastic action of ending his own life. In reading this book, I am left with the feeling that his story didn't have to end that way. If President Jefferson hadn't given Lewis a job he was unsuited for and only required him to finish his journals of discovery, Lewis could have done so, and then possibly resumed a career in the military and even found a wife. Or if his co-captain William Clark had accompanied Lewis on the journey to address the unfairness of payment denials from the federal government (both of them experienced this difficulty), Lewis would have had the support of a close friend who realized Lewis's vulnerabilities and imprudent tendencies. Both together they might have recovered the payments they felt the government owed them and proceeded on.

[Orman Gary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anyone infatuated with the Lewis and Clark Expedition simply can’t get enough of this incredible story of our wonderful early American history. That includes me. “So Hard To Die” by husband and wife team, Drs. David and Marti Peck, is an extraordinary work that explains in great detail the many intervening variables for the death (suicide/murder) of Meriwether Lewis. This is not an assessment of the timeline of Lewis’s death. It’s much, much more! Co-authors Dr. David Peck, (physician) and wife, Marti Peck, (clinical psychologist) are not pussyfooting around here with the reader. They are dead serious in dissecting the intricacies of the subject matter regarding Meriwether Lewis’s death in astonishing detail. What an amazing combination of talent these two “health professionals” bring to the problem of figuring out how Lewis may have died at a relatively young age in his thirties – in their highly professional opinions. Their thorough review of the literature of this subject matter is jaw dropping and brings forward the unexpected insight of Lewis’s life in relationship to familial, philosophical, physiologic, pharmacological, mental, religious, pathological, homicidal, political, intervening variables, etc. And their research on many of these topics takes the reader through a very serious and thorough learning curve of many healthcare topics (e.g. malaria, alcoholism, etc.). Lewis and Clark aficionados will appreciate the hard work that these two healthcare professionals accomplished in an earnest effort to help the reader arrive at a coherent conclusion on their own. Drs. David and Marti Peck have amassed here in a very instructive manner a quintessential reference on this topic that left me imagining how I might have felt after surviving a fantastic three-plus year journey as a U.S. Army Captain and then becoming trapped in a bureaucratic role (as Governor of Louisiana) and working with a bunch of pin-heads – especially in one’s thirties. The soul needs novelty, adventure and uncertainty to unleash its unlimited potential, otherwise it begins to die. That’s what the Lewis and Clark expedition did for Lewis and all members of the expedition. It ignited their life force. “So Hard To Die,” helped me to put better closure on the death of an extraordinary American hero, Meriwether Lewis. However, more importantly, I came away intuitively sensing that the life force is more at home among the grizzly bears, rivers, and colorful sunsets than in the safety and security of bureaucratic office buildings, egoic pin heads, and traffic jams.

[Ray E. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished "So Hard to Die" by David and Marti Peck. This is a terrific read on a key historical mystery. The Pecks bring their medical and scientific perspective on the life and psychology of Meriwether Lewis, and argue convincingly that he died at his own hand on October 11, 1809. I especially appreciate the comprehensive nature of their exploration of the subject, which includes cultural, social, scientific, medical, philosophical, and political perspectives. One cannot do justice to a subject such as this without some presentation of these perspectives. Suicide is not just a medical or psychological issue; in fact, there are various social and cultural factors that weigh on those who end their lives. This book presents those factors, and the authors are to be commended. I enjoyed particularly Marti's proposed analysis of Lewis from a contemporary psychological perspective, and commend her informed creativity in presenting a fictional psychological interview with both Lewis and Clark at the time of his death. I would not hesitate to recommend this book to a friend.

[Esther Steiner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dr. Peck and his wife go through Lewis’ mental and physical traits to determine whether or not he was a victim of murder or suicide. Although we will never know for sure, unless Lewis’ remains are dug up (sorry, not going to happen since his grave is on Park Service land), all the arguments pointing to the murder theory seem to have been dismissed based on Peck’s findings.

Personally, some of the murder conspiracy arguments make no sense to me, and I am inclined to be on par with Dr. Peck on this matter. I think Lewis was an alcoholic, that he was pressured by those around him, and that as Capt. Clark wrote, “I fear the weight of his mind overcame him,” and that he committed suicide.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A Must-Read for Lewis & Clark Fans and True Crime History Buffs

So Hard to Die is hands down the most detailed and medically accurate book about Meriwether Lewis’s death. Written by a doctor and a psychologist, it goes beyond history books by including a unique chapter where a forensic pathologist answers medical questions about Lewis’s wounds and cause of death.

The authors lean toward suicide but make a powerful case that only exhumation and modern forensic science can settle the mystery for good. It’s thoughtful, well-researched, and fair—definitely the go-to if you want the clearest, most science-backed view on Lewis’s final days.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

First of all, kudos to the authors for all their work and detailed explanations of their conclusions about the death of Meriwether Lewis. I learned a lot about the man and life in the time of the Louisiana Purchase. Having said that, at times, it seemed like an extended facebook argument. There is obviously a large group of people who are interested in Lewis and his death and all have different opinions. There was also a lot of repetition of the same details over and over. I did make it through the whole book, but my own interest in this topic wasn't sufficient to appreciate this much depth. I would say it's definitely a niche book.

[Rose Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A scientific analysis of Meriwether Lewis' death.