Rob Baker’s Reviews > Undaunted Courage: The Pioneering First Mission to Explore America's Wild Frontier > Status Update

Rob Baker
Rob Baker is on page 108 of 592
Jefferson proposed a cross-country exploration a few times before the famous one came about, including in 1792. Lewis, then 18, volunteered, but Jeffereson rejected him for being too young.

Instead he sent a Frenchman, André Michaux, who made it as far as Kentucky when Jeffereson learned that Michaux's goal wasn't exploration but war with the Spanish, so recalled him.

Thus the project was delayed another decade.
Mar 09, 2026 04:28AM
Undaunted Courage: The Pioneering First Mission to Explore America's Wild Frontier

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Rob Baker
Rob Baker is on page 132 of 592
Lewis had to undertake massive studies before setting out on the great exploration:

"Between (the summer) and December of 1802, Jefferson gave Lewis a college undergraduate's introduction to the liberal arts, North American Geography, botany, mineralogy, astronomy, and ethnology" (77).
6 hours, 30 min ago
Undaunted Courage: The Pioneering First Mission to Explore America's Wild Frontier


Rob Baker
Rob Baker is on page 84 of 592
Wonder what Thomas Jefferson would think of e-scooters?

"Jefferson, believing that the taming of the horse had resulted in the degeneracy of the human body, urged the young to walk for exercise.

Lewis took his advice and became a great hiker, with feet as tough as his butt...According to Jefferson, the young Lewis hunted barefoot in the snow" (30).
Mar 08, 2026 03:53AM
Undaunted Courage: The Pioneering First Mission to Explore America's Wild Frontier


Rob Baker
Rob Baker is on page 59 of 592
"The (Lewis) family coat of arms was 'Omne Solum Forti Patria Est', or 'All Earth Is to a Brave Man His Country'. (An alternate translation is 'Everything the Brave Man Does Is for His Country').

My great-aunt had painted a small image of the Lewis coat of arms with this Latin quote under it. Growing up, I remember it hung in our family home and memorizing the phrase, but never knew what it meant until today :)
Mar 07, 2026 04:02AM
Undaunted Courage: The Pioneering First Mission to Explore America's Wild Frontier


Rob Baker
Rob Baker is on page 30 of 592
"The (Lewis) family coat of arms was 'Omne Solum Forti Patria Est,' or All Earth Is to a Brave Man His Country' (An alternate translation is 'Everything the Brave Man Does Is for His Country')" (20-21).

My great-aunt had painted a small image of the Lewis coat of arms with this saying on it. It hanging in our family home when I grew up. I could always remember it, but never really knew what it meant until today :)
Mar 07, 2026 03:56AM
Undaunted Courage: The Pioneering First Mission to Explore America's Wild Frontier


Rob Baker
Rob Baker is on page 30 of 592
Merriwether Lewis is an ancestor of mine (not direct, he had no children). My brother and I enjoy visiting Lewis and Clark sites when we're traveling. High time I read this book. It's been sitting on my shelf forever.
Mar 06, 2026 02:31AM
Undaunted Courage: The Pioneering First Mission to Explore America's Wild Frontier


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