Jefferson's Character and the Lewis and Clark Expedition

Introduction

Thomas Jefferson's impact on the famous Lewis and Clark expedition stems from the influence of his character on the expedition's objectives, his shaping of Meriwether Lewis's personality, and his direction of the tasks completed by both Lewis and William Clark. Jefferson's interest in Indian affairs, his love of scientific inquiry, and his loyalty to the fledgling American nation had a large impact on his design and deployment of the expedition. In addition, Jefferson's long relationship with the Lewis family likely had a strong effect on the development of the young Meriwether Lewis, especially in his love of nature. Jefferson chose both Lewis and Clark for the expedition likely because they exemplified many of the characteristics he admired: they were capable, self-taught men with an interest in the West and a love of nature. Many of the expedition's most successful aspects reflected Jefferson's influence, including Clark's detailed record-keeping and the resilience Lewis demonstrated on numerous occasions.

Thomas Jefferson is perhaps one of America's most admired early statesmen. He is often seen as a man of complex and exemplary character who played a crucial role in the formation of the new American nation. Jefferson's character was indeed noteworthy: he was a known admirer of the natural world, a profound proponent of democracy, and a noted scholar with wide-ranging interests. As a child, Jefferson was schooled in a variety of subjects, including Latin and Greek, and he retained an appreciation for learning throughout his life. In speaking of his ability to read Greek and Latin authors in the original, he noted, "I thank on my knees him who directed my early education for having put into my possession this rich source of delight" (Peterson, 7). He was a diligent student who developed a deep love of nature (Peterson).

Jefferson's Character and the Origins of the Expedition

Jefferson's character was instrumental in the very formation of the Lewis and Clark expedition. He had a long interest in Indian affairs dating back to his childhood, and as a statesman he recognized the need to understand Indian life as thoroughly as possible in order to further American expansion and trade. These twin motivations likely drove many of his instructions to carefully document Indian life (Ronda).

Jefferson's lifelong love of scientific inquiry and his rigorous academic background also played an important role in his desire to learn more about the diverse geography of uncharted territories. As Moulton notes, "Thomas Jefferson's curiosity about the West was lifelong, sustained by his broad scientific interests and his hopes and dreams for the future of the United States." Jefferson's decision to create the expedition was further driven by his belief that all knowledge — including scientific knowledge gathered in the field — was of practical use (Moulton).

An important driving force behind the expedition can be found in Jefferson's loyalty to the fledgling American nation. Jefferson had envisioned a transcontinental expedition across the Missouri River for almost twenty years before Lewis and Clark set out. He ultimately decided to launch the expedition after reading about Alexander Mackenzie's voyages to the coast of British Columbia and the Arctic Ocean, in which Mackenzie urged Britain to develop a transcontinental trade route. Jefferson feared that the British would lay claim to the Far West, and his loyalty to the American cause spurred him to secure a foothold for the nation in the region (Moulton).

The ties between Jefferson, Lewis, and Clark were long and complex. As Ambrose notes, "The Lewis and Meriwether families had long been close-knit and interrelated. Indeed, there were eleven marriages joining the Lewises and Meriwethers between 1725 and 1774" (Ambrose, 21). Jefferson had even asked William Clark's older brother, George Rogers Clark, to lead a western expedition in 1783, a plan that was ultimately cancelled (Moulton).

Jefferson's Relationship with the Lewis Family

Jefferson was a friend and neighbor of Meriwether Lewis's father and was well acquainted with the Lewis family. As Ambrose notes, "Thomas Jefferson described Lewis's forebears as 'one of the most distinguished families' of Virginia, and among the earliest" (Ambrose, 20). When war broke out in 1775, Jefferson observed that Meriwether Lewis's father, William Lewis, gladly left his young family to serve without pay, bearing his own expenses throughout the conflict.

Interestingly, Jefferson remarked that the Lewis and Meriwether families were "subject to hypochondriac afflictions. It was a constitutional disposition in all the nearer branches of the family" (Ambrose, 21). William Lewis's tendency toward hypochondria — also described by Jefferson as melancholy, and later understood as depression — was largely overlooked by Jefferson, who otherwise regarded the elder Lewis as a man possessing "good sense, integrity, bravery, enterprise & remarkable bodily powers" (21).

Jefferson's contact with the Meriwether family included exposure to Meriwether Lewis as a young child. Of Lewis in childhood, Jefferson wrote that he "was remarkable even in infancy for enterprise, boldness & discretion. When only 8 years of age, he habitually went out in the dead of night alone with his dogs, into the forest to hunt the raccoon & opossum… In this exercise no season or circumstance could obstruct his purpose, plunging thro' the winter's snows and frozen streams in pursuit of his object" (Ambrose, 24). One can readily imagine that Jefferson served as an enthusiastic and able mentor who encouraged the young Lewis's interest in nature.

Lewis's interest in the American West was likely encouraged, if not first ignited, by Jefferson himself. Jefferson's fascination with the West was embedded deep in his outlook. As Peterson notes, "He was neither pioneer nor explorer, but the West was in his thoughts from an early age. The West was nature writ large… nature in the large had an enduring fascination for him" (6).

Conclusion

Ultimately, the positive impact of Jefferson's character fell short of relieving Lewis of the family characteristic of hypochondria that Jefferson had noted plagued Meriwether's father. At the young age of 35, Lewis committed suicide after his return from the successful voyage (Ambrose).