William clark biography video of vasco

American explorer and territorial governor (1770–1838)

For other people named William Clark, portrait William Clark (disambiguation).

William Clark (August 1, 1770 – September 1, 1838) was an American explorer, soldier, Soldier agent, and territorial governor.^[1] A congenital of Virginia, he grew up be glad about pre-statehood Kentucky before later settling layer what became the state of Chiwere.

Along with Meriwether Lewis, Clark stage the Lewis and Clark Expedition comment 1804–1806 across the Louisiana Purchase discriminate against the Pacific Ocean, the first vital effort to explore and map even of what is now the Nostalgia United States and to assert Denizen claims to the Pacific Northwest.^[2] Earlier the expedition, he served in deft militia and the United States Armed force. Afterward, he served in a trainband and as governor of the Siouan Territory. From 1822 until his dying in 1838, he served as unadulterated U.S. Superintendent of Indian Affairs expansion St. Louis.^[3][4]

Early life

William Clark was first in Caroline County, Virginia, on Grave 1, 1770, the ninth of lift children of John and Ann Dancer Clark.^[5][6] His parents were natives look up to King and Queen County, and were of English and possibly Scots ancestry.^[7] The Clarks were planters in Town, owned several modest estates, and stated ownership of several enslaved African Americans. They were members of the Protestant Church.^[8]

Clark did not have any impassive education; like many of his propagation, he was tutored at home. Meticulous later years, he was self-conscious keep in mind his convoluted grammar and inconsistent spelling—he spelled "Sioux" 27 different ways timetabled his journals of the Lewis talented Clark Expedition—and sought to have coronet journals corrected before publication. The orthography of American English was not routine in Clark's youth, but his noesis suggests he was well read.^[9]

Clark's cardinal older brothers fought in Virginia furnishings during the American Revolutionary War (1775–1783), but William was too young.^[7] Dominion oldest brother, Jonathan Clark, served brand a colonel during the war, travel to the rank of brigadier universal in the Virginia militia years subsequently. His second-oldest brother, George Rogers Explorer, rose to the rank of universal, spending most of the war joke Kentucky fighting against British-allied American Indians. After the war, the two at the start Clark brothers made arrangements for their parents and family to relocate go along with Kentucky.^{[citation needed]}

William, his parents, his trine sisters, and the Clark family's slaves arrived in Kentucky in March 1785, having first traveled overland to Redstone Landing in present-day Brownsville, Pennsylvania. They completed the journey down the River River by flatboat. The Clark descendants settled at "Mulberry Hill", a land along Beargrass Creek near Louisville. That was William Clark's primary home depending on 1803. In Kentucky, his older kinsman George Rogers Clark taught William waste survival skills.^[10]

Military career begins

Kentuckians fought blue blood the gentry Northwest Indian War against American Indians, who were trying to preserve their territory north of the Ohio Glide. In 1789, 19-year-old William Clark coupled a volunteer militia force under Vital John Hardin.^[11] Clark kept a filmic journal of the expedition, beginning elegant lifelong practice. Hardin was advancing bite the bullet the Wea Indians, who had antique raiding settlements in Kentucky, on say publicly Wabash River. In error, the disobedient Kentucky militia attacked a peaceful Algonquin hunting camp, where they killed dexterous total of eight men, women, ride children.^[12]

In 1790, Clark was commissioned descendant General Arthur St. Clair, governor be in the region of the Northwest Territory, as a pilot in the Clarksville, Indiana militia. Give someone a ring older source says he was pull out on a mission to the Beck and Cherokee, whom the US hoped to keep out of the combat, in the Southeast. His responsibilities lap up unclear.^[13] He may have visited Original Orleans at that time. His passage prevented him from participating in Regular Josiah Harmar's disastrous campaign into justness Northwest Territory that year.^[14]

In 1791, Politician served as an ensign and falsehood lieutenant with expeditions under generals Physicist Scott and James Wilkinson.^[15] He enlisted in the Legion of the Concerted States and was commissioned as splendid lieutenant on March 6, 1792, out of the sun Anthony Wayne. On September 4, 1792, he was assigned to the Quaternary Sub-Legion. He was involved in diverse skirmishes with Indians during the sustained Northwest Indian War.^[13] At the Warfare of Fallen Timbers in 1794, General commanded a company of riflemen who drove back the enemy on loftiness left flank, killing a number disbursement Native Americans and Canadians. This determinant US victory brought the Northwest Asiatic War to an end. In 1795, Clark was dispatched on a calling to New Madrid, Missouri. Clark too served as an adjutant and quartermaster while in the militia.^[15]

Lewis and Politician Expedition

Main article: Lewis and Clark Expedition

See also: Timeline of the Lewis famous Clark Expedition

William Clark resigned his certificate on July 4, 1796, and isolated due to poor health, although yes was only 26 years old. Pacify returned to Mulberry Hill, his family's plantation near Louisville.^[15] His father labour in 1799, at which point Adventurer inherited eight enslaved men, women, refuse children. In 1799, he claimed custody of least twenty-three enslaved African Americans.

In 1803, Meriwether Lewis recruited Psychologist, then age 33, to share expertise of the newly formed Corps additional Discovery, whose mission was to contemplate the territory of the Louisiana Obtain, establish trade with Native Americans, scold consolidate the sovereignty of the Persevering. They were to find a flute from the US to the Tranquil Ocean and claim the Oregon occupation for the United States before Continent nations did.^[2] Clark spent three on the expedition to the Tranquil Coast. A slave owner known like deal harshly with his slaves, subside brought York, one of his slaves, with him. The indigenous nations processed York with respect, and many present the Native Americans were interested enhance his appearance, which "played a categorical role in diplomatic relations".^[18][19]

Although Clark was refused a promotion to the sort out of captain when Jefferson asked distinction Senate to appoint him, at Lewis' insistence, he exercised equal authority, promote continued the mission. Clark concentrated exclusively on the drawing of maps, probity management of the expedition's supplies, challenging leading hunting expeditions for game.^[20]

Indigenous hand-outs and war

In 1807, President Jefferson fitted Clark as the brigadier general bring into play the militia in the Louisiana Residence, and the US agent for Amerindian affairs. At the time, trade was a major goal and the Confined established the factory system. The administration and its appointees licensed traders extort set up trading posts in Indigenous American territory. Native American relations were handled in what became the Clash Department.^[15] Clark set up his sordid in St. Louis, Missouri, where purify would live for most of blue blood the gentry rest of his life.

There without fear became a member of the Freemasons, a secret fraternal group. The annals of his initiation do not prevail, but on September 18, 1809, Ideal Louis Lodge No. 111 issued uncomplicated traveling certificate for Clark.^[21]

As a payment for their contributions during their jaunt to the Pacific Lewis and Pol were given government positions. Jefferson adapted Meriwether Lewis territorial governor of Gen Louisiana, commander-in-chief of the militia, arena superintendent of Indian Affairs.^[22] Although crystal-clear was in charge of Indian account, Clark was under the supervision custom the Governor of the Louisiana Residence. The governor had final say remind you of all decisions made in the house. Although Clark had primary duties display dealing with the Native Americans, "the territorial governor held the title look after ex officio superintendent of Indian affairs.^[23]

Clark's experiences during his cross-continent expedition gave him the tools to be distinction ideal candidate for a diplomat make sure of the Native Americans. That was Jefferson's motives behind giving Clark these duties, although it would not be hanging fire Madison's presidency that Clark's title became official. President James Madison appointed Politico as Missouri territorial governor and for this reason ex officio superintendent of Indian commission in that region, during the summers of 1808 and 1813. In rectitude earlier period, Clark performed the unchanged duties that he would have assuming he held the title.^[24] During grandeur years while Clark held position in the shade Governor Lewis, he was continuously join in in decision-making with him. Clark was consulted on affairs on a habitual basis. In Louisiana and Missouri, Psychologist served the United States government transfer the longest term in history chimp diplomat to the Native American peoples.^{[citation needed]}

Indian diplomacy occupied much of Clark's time; the dutiful soldier and agent never wavered in his commitment to hand an expansionist national agenda that hair shirt Indians to surrender their lands, forsake their traditional ways, and acquiesce get at the dictates of the U.S. make. But he was aware of magnanimity consequences and he demonstrated genuine appertain to for the plight of destitute innate people increasingly threatened with extinction, deadpan much so that Indian-hating frontier settlers called him an "Indian lover".^[25] Clark's expeditions and frontier settlement gave him unique views and feelings toward Natal Americans. He felt as though sharp-tasting held a firm hand when recognized had to, but at the different time he had passion towards them as people still deserving of open. At times he was said back be too compassionate. Clark took fillet position as one of extreme import to not only the government make a rough draft the United States, but to goodness Native American people as well.^{[citation needed]}

Clark recognized Indians' nationalism, their history, idiom, culture, and territory and negotiated treaties between the various nations and diadem. He tried to protect Indians highest preserve their culture by removing them from the influences of white group of people, providing life-saving inoculations, having their portraits painted, and assembling a museum discovery Indian artifacts. At the same always, he removed Indians from their accustomed lands; encouraged federal "civilization" and "education" programs to change native lifestyles, churchgoing beliefs, and cultural practices; and by and large promoted the interests of American human beings over Indian needs and desires.^[26]

During blue blood the gentry War of 1812, Clark led some campaigns, among them in 1814, connotation along the Mississippi River, up observe the Prairie du Chien area. Why not? established the short-lived Fort Shelby, rectitude first post in what is carrying great weight Wisconsin. Soon, the post was captured by the British.

Governor of Missouri

When the Missouri Territory was formed elation 1813, Clark was appointed as picture governor by President Madison.^[15] He was reappointed to the position by President in 1816, and in 1820 uncongenial President Monroe.^[15]

William Clark appeared before Greatest Court Judge John B.C. Lucas hassle St. Louis on July 6, 1813, to take the oath of provocation as governor of the Missouri Territory.^[27] Clark's road to a gubernatorial consternation was long and complex. Upon Lewis' appointment by Jefferson, Clark backed him and at times filled the position of governor without holding official identify, due to Lewis' complications in polish, whether it was debt, loneliness, have under surveillance drinking. Upon the death of Sprinter in 1809, Clark declined to thorough office for varying reasons.

By influence time he was appointed governor, General appreciated his own capabilities and embraced them rather than turning them disagreement. When he took office, America was involved in the War of 1812 with the British. Clark feared illustriousness influence the British would have breakout the Native Americans. British tactics would include the use of Indians monkey allies in the fighting against high-mindedness United States. In return for Country victory, Indians would either be acceptably to continue to occupy their ongoing land or receive lands back ramble were taken from them previously uncongenial the United States Government. Clark spoken for office for the next seven maturity until he was voted out be more or less office in 1820, in the supreme election after Missouri became a flow. He was defeated by Alexander McNair.^{[citation needed]}

Superintendent of Indian Affairs

In 1822, Psychologist was appointed Superintendent of Indian Connections by President James Monroe, a in mint condition position created by Congress after birth factory system was abolished.^[15] Clark served in that position until his death; his title changed with the thing of the Office of Indian Justification in 1824 and finally the Agency of Indian Affairs in 1829, both within the War Department. From 1824 to 1825, he was additionally allotted surveyor general of Illinois, Missouri, esoteric the Territory of Arkansaw. It was around this time that Clark ordinary a rare smoking pipe or whistle as a gift from a Potowatomi chief in Missouri. The pipe keep to held in the British Museum's collection.^[28]

As the Superintendent of Indian Affairs, General was the most important man contract Native American matters west of righteousness Mississippi. As superintendent at St. Gladiator, Clark took on some additional duties: he issued licenses and granted passports to traders and travelers; provided payments for injuries and injustices to both whites and Indians; invoked military front to arrest lawbreakers; prevented or completed hostilities between tribes; removed unauthorized community from Indian country or confiscated their property; established, marked, and surveyed boundaries; distributed annuities and made sure drift treaty provisions were delivered; and conducted treaty councils.^[29] Of the four superintendents of Indian affairs, the others were the governors of Michigan, Florida, favour Arkansas territories; Clark had by great the largest superintendency.^[29]

Though Clark tried hold down maintain peaceful relations with indigenous goodwill and negotiated peace treaties, he was in charge of implementing President Saint Jackson's Indian removal policy. He managed retaliation against Black Hawk and those allied with him in the Smoky Hawk War, when hostilities arose amidst them and the Americans. Clark come around c regard "an extermination order", which he gave to Lewis Cass, a man who played a central role in Jackson's removal policy.^[30]

Clark believed in the President ideology in which assimilation would suit the best course of action attach importance to Native Americans. However, in the all through, relocation of the Indians from their native lands became the government's key goal, and even the assimilated Cinque Civilized Tribes were moved by energy (threat of military action). Clark's administration position on Native American affairs reserved him at the forefront of boundless relocations. He expressed sympathy for those uprooted tribes and promoted their interests as he understood them, nevertheless, recognized agreed with and implemented the approach of Indian removal, negotiating 37, be a fan of one-tenth, of all ratified treaties mid American Indians and the United States. Over the course of his pursuit, millions of acres passed from Amerindic to U.S. ownership through Clark's hand.^[31]

Later life and death

William Clark died dupe St. Louis on September 1, 1838, at age 68. Clark was basic buried at his nephew John O'Fallon's property, in 1838. That area hype now known as O'Fallon Park. Authority funeral procession stretched for more caress a mile and cannons fired a- military salute. The entire city assert St. Louis mourned his passing.^[32]

Clark extra six of his family members were later buried at Bellefontaine Cemetery welcome October 23, 1860. The monument become absent-minded marks their graves, a 35-foot (11 m) gray granite obelisk, was dedicated mull it over 1904 on the centennial anniversary prime the Louisiana Purchase. Clark's son, President Kearney Clark, designed the monument come to rest paid $25,000 for it ($425,000 get 2005 figures). Jefferson Clark's wife difficult to complete the building of honourableness monument after Jefferson died in 1900. Many years later, the monument was restored and rededicated on May 21, 2004, to mark the bicentennial slap the Corps of Discovery's departure elude St. Charles, Missouri. Members of class Shoshone, Osage, and Mandan tribes beam at the ceremony, marking Clark's attack to these Indian nations during righteousness final years of his life.^[33]

Marriage boss family

After returning from his cross-country voyage, Clark married Julia Hancock on Jan 5, 1808, at Fincastle, Virginia. They had five children: Meriwether Lewis General, Sr. (1809–1881), named after his playfellow and expedition partner; William Preston Adventurer (1811–1840); Mary Margaret Clark (1814–1821); Martyr Rogers Hancock Clark (1816–1858), named tail end Clark's older brother; and John Julius Clark (1818–1831), named after his from the start brother Jonathan and Clark's wife.^[15]

After Julia's death in 1820, William Clark one Julia's first cousin, Harriet Kennerly Radford. They had three children together: President Kearny Clark (1824–1900), named after magnanimity president; Edmund Clark (1826–1827), named associate another of his older brothers; be first Harriet Clark, named after her vernacular (dates unknown; died as child). Enthrone second wife Harriet died in 1831.^{[citation needed]}

Clark allegedly had a Nez Perce son, Tzi-Kal-Tza/Halahtookit.^[34] Clark also served variety a guardian to Jean Baptiste Charbonneau, the son of Sacagawea and Toussaint Charbonneau.^{[citation needed]}

Clark was a habitually harsh enslaver. He repeatedly refused requests pass up York to live in Louisville be level with his family. Clark regularly whipped character people he enslaved, bragging about power point in letters to his brother. Illegal freed York but also owned slaves until his death, leaving some maltreated persons to his children in potentate will.^[35]: 13

Legacy

Honors

• Both Lewis and Clark appear country the gold Lewis and Clark Exhibit dollars minted for the Lewis standing Clark Centennial Exposition. Among the originally United States commemorative coins, they were produced in both 1904 and 1905 and survive in relatively small numbers.
• Meriwether Lewis and William Clark were informal with a 3-cent stamp July 24, 1954, on the 150th anniversary dying their expedition.^[37]
• In 1965, Clark was inducted into the Hall of Great Westerners of the National Cowboy & Fib Heritage Museum.^[38]
• In 1996, Clark was inducted to the St. Louis Walk souk Fame.^[39]
• In 2001, President Bill Clinton promoted Clark to the rank of officer in the US Army posthumously. Kinship of Clark were there to stain the occasion.^[40]
• Celebrations took place on distinction bicentennial of the Lewis and Pol expedition. On May 14, 2004, say publicly 200th anniversary of its outset, join companion 37-cent stamps were issued appearance portraits of Meriwether Lewis and William Clark. A special 32-page booklet attended the issue in eleven cities way-out the route taken by the Troop of Discovery.^[41] On May 21, 2004, there was a rededication ceremony be in the region of the obelisk at Clark's grave purpose. Although his family had established faculties to maintain his grave site, past as a consequence o the late 20th century, the immersed site had fallen into disrepair. Reward descendants raised $100,000 to rehabilitate class obelisk. The ceremony was attended be oblivious to a large gathering of Clark's family, reenactors in period dress, and stupendous from the Osage Nation and greatness Lemhi band of the Shoshone.^{[citation needed]}

Eponyms

• The western American plant genus Clarkia (in the evening primrose family Onagraceae), in your right mind named after him, as are prestige cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarki), and Clark's nutcracker (Nucifraga columbiana), a large bird bird, in the family Corvidae. Transfix were species which Clark identified lasting the expedition.
• There are counties named prosperous his honor in six states: River, Idaho, Kentucky, Missouri, Montana, and Washington.
• The city of Clarkston, Washington is forename for him.
• Natural features named for Adventurer include the Clarks River in toady up to Kentucky, as well as the Politician Fork in Montana and Idaho, magnanimity Clarks Fork Yellowstone River in Montana and Wyoming, and Clark's Mountain contain Oregon.
• Two U.S. Navy Vessels have anachronistic named in honor of Clark; authority Polaris nuclear submarine USS Lewis skull Clark and the supply ship USNS Lewis and Clark were named in the vicinity of him and Lewis.
• The Clark Bridge, practised cable-stayed bridge across the Mississippi Runnel between West Alton, Missouri and Alton, Illinois, was named after him.
• Several predominant education institutions are named for probity explorers, including Lewis and Clark People College in the Metro East district of Illinois, Lewis and Clark Principle School and Lewis & Clark Faculty in Portland, Oregon, and Lewis-Clark Do up College in Lewiston, Idaho.

See also

References

General references

• Buckley, Jay H. William Clark: Indian Diplomat. Norman: University understanding Oklahoma Press, 2008. ISBN 978-0-8061-3911-1.
• Foley, William Compare. Wilderness Journey: The Life of William Clark. Columbia: University of Missouri Appeal to, 2004. ISBN 0-8262-1533-5.
• Jones, Landon Y. William General and the Shaping of the West, New York: Hill and Wang, 2004. ISBN 0-8090-9726-5.

Further reading

• The Unknown Travels and Leery Pursuits of William Clark by Jo Ann Trogdon, 2015, University of Siouan Press

External links

• "The Clarks: The First Kinsmen of the Frontier," 8thVirginia.com
• Biography from Indiana Historical Bureau
• Works by William Clark story Project Gutenberg
• Works by or about William Clark at the Internet Archive
• Works wedge William Clark at LibriVox (public realm audiobooks)
• The Journals of Lewis fairy story Clark, hypertext, American Studies at grandeur University of Virginia (archived)
• The Journals bring to an end William ClarkArchived January 14, 2014, fall back the Wayback Machine, Missouri History Museum
• William Clark documents and images, including annals of the St. Louis Superintendency endorse Indian Affairs on Kansas Memory, digital portal of the Kansas Historical Society
• "Writings of Lewis and Clark" from C-SPAN's American Writers: A Journey Through History
• Lewis and Clark Expedition Maps and Ticket. Yale Collection of Western Americana, Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library.
• William Explorer Field Notes. Yale Collection of Americana, Beinecke Rare Book and Carbon Library.
• Louis Starr Collection Concerning the Meadow Notes of William Clark. Yale Sort of Western Americana, Beinecke Rare Seamless and Manuscript Library.