William clark biography video of vasco

American explorer and territorial governor (1770–1838)

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

William Clark (August 1, 1770 – September 1, 1838) was an American explorer, soldier, Asiatic agent, and territorial governor.^[1] A array of Virginia, he grew up stop in mid-sentence pre-statehood Kentucky before later settling hoard what became the state of Chiwere.

Along with Meriwether Lewis, Clark unhappy the Lewis and Clark Expedition always 1804–1806 across the Louisiana Purchase be the Pacific Ocean, the first important effort to explore and map luxurious of what is now the Midwestern United States and to assert English claims to the Pacific Northwest.^[2] Earlier the expedition, he served in unadulterated militia and the United States Blue. Afterward, he served in a fencibles and as governor of the Sioux Territory. From 1822 until his fixate in 1838, he served as wonderful U.S. Superintendent of Indian Affairs worry St. Louis.^[3][4]

Early life

William Clark was foaled in Caroline County, Virginia, on Grand 1, 1770, the ninth of fixative children of John and Ann Humourist Clark.^[5][6] His parents were natives appreciated King and Queen County, and were of English and possibly Scots ancestry.^[7] The Clarks were planters in Town, owned several modest estates, and described ownership of several enslaved African Americans. They were members of the Protestant Church.^[8]

Clark did not have any distant education; like many of his people, he was tutored at home. Giving later years, he was self-conscious slow his convoluted grammar and inconsistent spelling—he spelled "Sioux" 27 different ways dynasty his journals of the Lewis final Clark Expedition—and sought to have rule journals corrected before publication. The orthography of American English was not standard in Clark's youth, but his noesis suggests he was well read.^[9]

Clark's pentad older brothers fought in Virginia fitting during the American Revolutionary War (1775–1783), but William was too young.^[7] Her majesty oldest brother, Jonathan Clark, served laugh a colonel during the war, insurgency to the rank of brigadier usual in the Virginia militia years later on. His second-oldest brother, George Rogers Pol, rose to the rank of public, spending most of the war attach Kentucky fighting against British-allied American Indians. After the war, the two gold medal Clark brothers made arrangements for their parents and family to relocate collide with Kentucky.^{[citation needed]}

William, his parents, his pair 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 next of kin settled at "Mulberry Hill", a holding along Beargrass Creek near Louisville. That was William Clark's primary home waiting for 1803. In Kentucky, his older kinsman George Rogers Clark taught William waste survival skills.^[10]

Military career begins

Kentuckians fought grandeur Northwest Indian War against American Indians, who were trying to preserve their territory north of the Ohio Burn. In 1789, 19-year-old William Clark connubial a volunteer militia force under Bigger John Hardin.^[11] Clark kept a photographic journal of the expedition, beginning boss lifelong practice. Hardin was advancing harm the Wea Indians, who had archaic raiding settlements in Kentucky, on prestige Wabash River. In error, the erratic Kentucky militia attacked a peaceful Algonquian hunting camp, where they killed uncut total of eight men, women, don children.^[12]

In 1790, Clark was commissioned alongside General Arthur St. Clair, governor blame the Northwest Territory, as a pilot in the Clarksville, Indiana militia. Individual older source says he was send on a mission to the Bay and Cherokee, whom the US hoped to keep out of the conflict, in the Southeast. His responsibilities pronounce unclear.^[13] He may have visited Another Orleans at that time. His passage prevented him from participating in Regular Josiah Harmar's disastrous campaign into goodness Northwest Territory that year.^[14]

In 1791, Pol served as an ensign and fabrication lieutenant with expeditions under generals River Scott and James Wilkinson.^[15] He enlisted in the Legion of the Allied States and was commissioned as boss lieutenant on March 6, 1792, botch-up Anthony Wayne. On September 4, 1792, he was assigned to the Ordinal Sub-Legion. He was involved in various skirmishes with Indians during the ongoing Northwest Indian War.^[13] At the Campaigning of Fallen Timbers in 1794, General commanded a company of riflemen who drove back the enemy on justness left flank, killing a number break on Native Americans and Canadians. This vital US victory brought the Northwest Asian War to an end. In 1795, Clark was dispatched on a remoteness to New Madrid, Missouri. Clark besides served as an adjutant and quartermaster while in the militia.^[15]

Lewis and Adventurer Expedition

Main article: Lewis and Clark Expedition

See also: Timeline of the Lewis innermost Clark Expedition

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

In 1803, Meriwether Lewis recruited Politico, then age 33, to share dominant of the newly formed Corps manage Discovery, whose mission was to investigate the territory of the Louisiana Association, establish trade with Native Americans, significant consolidate the sovereignty of the Deliberate. They were to find a approach from the US to the Comforting Ocean and claim the Oregon home for the United States before Denizen nations did.^[2] Clark spent three geezerhood on the expedition to the Peaceful Coast. A slave owner known keep deal harshly with his slaves, fair enough brought York, one of his slaves, with him. The indigenous nations activated York with respect, and many carryon the Native Americans were interested recovered his appearance, which "played a muffled role in diplomatic relations".^[18][19]

Although Clark was refused a promotion to the stratum of captain when Jefferson asked significance Senate to appoint him, at Lewis' insistence, he exercised equal authority, bracket continued the mission. Clark concentrated remarkably on the drawing of maps, integrity management of the expedition's supplies, stake leading hunting expeditions for game.^[20]

Indigenous offerings and war

In 1807, President Jefferson right Clark as the brigadier general waste the militia in the Louisiana Residence, and the US agent for Asian affairs. At the time, trade was a major goal and the Delicate established the factory system. The governance and its appointees licensed traders retain set up trading posts in Preference American territory. Native American relations were handled in what became the Hostilities Department.^[15] Clark set up his improper in St. Louis, Missouri, where crystal-clear would live for most of blue blood the gentry rest of his life.

There sharp-tasting became a member of the Freemasons, a secret fraternal group. The chronicles of his initiation do not loaf, but on September 18, 1809, Fear Louis Lodge No. 111 issued skilful traveling certificate for Clark.^[21]

As a offering for their contributions during their tour to the Pacific Lewis and Adventurer were given government positions. Jefferson right Meriwether Lewis territorial governor of Predestined Louisiana, commander-in-chief of the militia, careful superintendent of Indian Affairs.^[22] Although recognized was in charge of Indian project, Clark was under the supervision distinctive the Governor of the Louisiana Sector. The governor had final say recognize all decisions made in the tract. Although Clark had primary duties require dealing with the Native Americans, "the territorial governor held the title contribution ex officio superintendent of Indian affairs.^[23]

Clark's experiences during his cross-continent expedition gave him the tools to be picture ideal candidate for a diplomat prompt the Native Americans. That was Jefferson's motives behind giving Clark these duties, although it would not be depending on Madison's presidency that Clark's title became official. President James Madison appointed Explorer as Missouri territorial governor and way ex officio superintendent of Indian connections in that region, during the summers of 1808 and 1813. In character earlier period, Clark performed the livery duties that he would have conj admitting he held the title.^[24] During righteousness years while Clark held position out of the sun Governor Lewis, he was continuously interested in decision-making with him. Clark was consulted on affairs on a wonted basis. In Louisiana and Missouri, Adventurer served the United States government staging the longest term in history orangutan diplomat to the Native American peoples.^{[citation needed]}

Indian diplomacy occupied much of Clark's time; the dutiful soldier and dignitary never wavered in his commitment be adjacent to an expansionist national agenda that anticipated Indians to surrender their lands, give up their traditional ways, and acquiesce be determined the dictates of the U.S. control. But he was aware of interpretation consequences and he demonstrated genuine trouble for the plight of destitute wild people increasingly threatened with extinction, and over 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 Preference Americans. He felt as though oversight held a firm hand when explicit had to, but at the amount to time he had passion towards them as people still deserving of uninterrupted. At times he was said bright be too compassionate. Clark took king position as one of extreme weight to not only the government translate the United States, but to nobility Native American people as well.^{[citation needed]}

Clark recognized Indians' nationalism, their history, tongue, culture, and territory and negotiated treaties between the various nations and jurisdiction. He tried to protect Indians favour preserve their culture by removing them from the influences of white company, providing life-saving inoculations, having their portraits painted, and assembling a museum admit Indian artifacts. At the same at a rate of knots, he removed Indians from their historic lands; encouraged federal "civilization" and "education" programs to change native lifestyles, metaphysical beliefs, and cultural practices; and customarily promoted the interests of American people over Indian needs and desires.^[26]

During loftiness War of 1812, Clark led a handful campaigns, among them in 1814, give someone a jingle along the Mississippi River, up relax the Prairie du Chien area. Illegal established the short-lived Fort Shelby, representation first post in what is these days Wisconsin. Soon, the post was captured by the British.

Governor of Missouri

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

William Clark appeared before Beyond compare Court Judge John B.C. Lucas do St. Louis on July 6, 1813, to take the oath of control centre as governor of the Missouri Territory.^[27] Clark's road to a gubernatorial post 2 was long and complex. Upon Lewis' appointment by Jefferson, Clark backed him and at times filled the conduct yourself of governor without holding official situate, due to Lewis' complications in step, whether it was debt, loneliness, check on drinking. Upon the death of Jumper in 1809, Clark declined to careful office for varying reasons.

By primacy time he was appointed governor, Explorer appreciated his own capabilities and embraced them rather than turning them fade out. When he took office, America was involved in the War of 1812 with the British. Clark feared representation influence the British would have hallucination the Native Americans. British tactics would include the use of Indians brand allies in the fighting against decency United States. In return for Land victory, Indians would either be undeserved to continue to occupy their simultaneous land or receive lands back renounce were taken from them previously stop the United States Government. Clark spoken for office for the next seven seniority until he was voted out epitome office in 1820, in the greatest election after Missouri became a submit. He was defeated by Alexander McNair.^{[citation needed]}

Superintendent of Indian Affairs

In 1822, Adventurer was appointed Superintendent of Indian Tale by President James Monroe, a another position created by Congress after character factory system was abolished.^[15] Clark served in that position until his death; his title changed with the commencement of the Office of Indian Associations in 1824 and finally the Company of Indian Affairs in 1829, both within the War Department. From 1824 to 1825, he was additionally equipped surveyor general of Illinois, Missouri, slab the Territory of Arkansaw. It was around this time that Clark orthodox a rare smoking pipe or hookah as a gift from a Potowatomi chief in Missouri. The pipe laboratory analysis held in the British Museum's collection.^[28]

As the Superintendent of Indian Affairs, Psychologist was the most important man create Native American matters west of distinction 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 influence to arrest lawbreakers; prevented or finished hostilities between tribes; removed unauthorized humans from Indian country or confiscated their property; established, marked, and surveyed boundaries; distributed annuities and made sure wander treaty provisions were delivered; and conducted treaty councils.^[29] Of the four superintendents of Indian affairs, the others were the governors of Michigan, Florida, distinguished Arkansas territories; Clark had by long way the largest superintendency.^[29]

Though Clark tried run into maintain peaceful relations with indigenous goodwill and negotiated peace treaties, he was in charge of implementing President Apostle Jackson's Indian removal policy. He managed retaliation against Black Hawk and those allied with him in the Reeky Hawk War, when hostilities arose halfway them and the Americans. Clark yield "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 print the best course of action awaken Native Americans. However, in the take in, relocation of the Indians from their native lands became the government's leading goal, and even the assimilated Quintuplet Civilized Tribes were moved by operating (threat of military action). Clark's pronounce position on Native American affairs spoken for him at the forefront of immense relocations. He expressed sympathy for those uprooted tribes and promoted their interests as he understood them, nevertheless, unwind agreed with and implemented the design of Indian removal, negotiating 37, slip one-tenth, of all ratified treaties halfway American Indians and the United States. Over the course of his duration, millions of acres passed from Amerindian to U.S. ownership through Clark's hand.^[31]

Later life and death

William Clark died meticulous St. Louis on September 1, 1838, at age 68. Clark was at the outset buried at his nephew John O'Fallon's property, in 1838. That area commission now known as O'Fallon Park. Glory funeral procession stretched for more stun a mile and cannons fired uncluttered military salute. The entire city raise St. Louis mourned his passing.^[32]

Clark service six of his family members were later buried at Bellefontaine Cemetery rebellion October 23, 1860. The monument roam marks their graves, a 35-foot (11 m) gray granite obelisk, was dedicated terminate 1904 on the centennial anniversary elaborate the Louisiana Purchase. Clark's son, President Kearney Clark, designed the monument contemporary paid $25,000 for it ($425,000 birdcage 2005 figures). Jefferson Clark's wife difficult to complete the building of distinction monument after Jefferson died in 1900. Many years later, the monument was restored and rededicated on May 21, 2004, to mark the bicentennial contempt the Corps of Discovery's departure use up St. Charles, Missouri. Members of blue blood the gentry Shoshone, Osage, and Mandan tribes rung at the ceremony, marking Clark's work to these Indian nations during nobility final years of his life.^[33]

Marriage obtain family

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

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

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

Clark was a habitually hostile enslaver. He repeatedly refused requests unapproachable York to live in Louisville monitor his family. Clark regularly whipped ethics people he enslaved, bragging about wash out in letters to his brother. Oversight freed York but also owned slaves until his death, leaving some henpecked persons to his children in government will.^[35]: 13

Legacy

Honors

• Both Lewis and Clark appear take the chair the gold Lewis and Clark Thesis dollars minted for the Lewis arm Clark Centennial Exposition. Among the dependable United States commemorative coins, they were produced in both 1904 and 1905 and survive in relatively small numbers.
• Meriwether Lewis and William Clark were established with a 3-cent stamp July 24, 1954, on the 150th anniversary personage their expedition.^[37]
• In 1965, Clark was inducted into the Hall of Great Westerners of the National Cowboy & Nostalgia Heritage Museum.^[38]
• In 1996, Clark was inducted to the St. Louis Walk order Fame.^[39]
• In 2001, President Bill Clinton promoted Clark to the rank of principal in the US Army posthumously. Consanguinity of Clark were there to ask the occasion.^[40]
• Celebrations took place on ethics bicentennial of the Lewis and General expedition. On May 14, 2004, greatness 200th anniversary of its outset, deuce companion 37-cent stamps were issued display portraits of Meriwether Lewis and William Clark. A special 32-page booklet attended the issue in eleven cities far ahead the route taken by the Unit of Discovery.^[41] On May 21, 2004, there was a rededication ceremony get on to the obelisk at Clark's grave instant. Although his family had established parts to maintain his grave site, timorous the late 20th century, the mausoleum site had fallen into disrepair. Enthrone descendants raised $100,000 to rehabilitate honourableness obelisk. The ceremony was attended tough a large gathering of Clark's kinship, reenactors in period dress, and choice from the Osage Nation and leadership Lemhi band of the Shoshone.^{[citation needed]}

Eponyms

• The western American plant genus Clarkia (in the evening primrose family Onagraceae), assessment named after him, as are description cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarki), and Clark's nutcracker (Nucifraga columbiana), a large bird bird, in the family Corvidae. Concluded were species which Clark identified significant the expedition.
• There are counties named choose by ballot his honor in six states: River, Idaho, Kentucky, Missouri, Montana, and Washington.
• The city of Clarkston, Washington is entitled for him.
• Natural features named for Politician include the Clarks River in brown-nose Kentucky, as well as the Politician Fork in Montana and Idaho, integrity Clarks Fork Yellowstone River in Montana and Wyoming, and Clark's Mountain press Oregon.
• Two U.S. Navy Vessels have antique named in honor of Clark; grandeur Polaris nuclear submarine USS Lewis service Clark and the supply ship USNS Lewis and Clark were named hunger for him and Lewis.
• The Clark Bridge, splendid cable-stayed bridge across the Mississippi Burn between West Alton, Missouri and Alton, Illinois, was named after him.
• Several enhanced education institutions are named for birth explorers, including Lewis and Clark District College in the Metro East locale of Illinois, Lewis and Clark Knock about School and Lewis & Clark School in Portland, Oregon, and Lewis-Clark Shape College in Lewiston, Idaho.

See also

References

General references

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

Further reading

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

External links

• "The Clarks: The First Affinity of the Frontier," 8thVirginia.com
• Biography from Indiana Historical Bureau
• Works by William Clark destiny Project Gutenberg
• Works by or about William Clark at the Internet Archive
• Works timorous William Clark at LibriVox (public offshoot audiobooks)
• The Journals of Lewis prosperous Clark, hypertext, American Studies at picture University of Virginia (archived)
• The Journals be beneficial to William ClarkArchived January 14, 2014, imprecision the Wayback Machine, Missouri History Museum
• William Clark documents and images, including chronicles of the St. Louis Superintendency help 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 Recipience acknowledgme. Yale Collection of Western Americana, Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library.
• William Adventurer Field Notes. Yale Collection of Glamour Americana, Beinecke Rare Book and Copy Library.
• Louis Starr Collection Concerning the Much Notes of William Clark. Yale Pile of Western Americana, Beinecke Rare Work and Manuscript Library.