The strange death of governor meriwether lewis, the author vardes fisher raised questions about the reliability of. When william clark and thomas jefferson were informed of lewiss death, both accepted the conclusion of suicide. Was meriwether lewiss death a suicide, an accident, or a homicide. Did stephen ambrose sanitize meriwether lewiss death. The life and death of meriwether lewis, and the author is a woman named patricia stroud, whom i had never heard of until now.
Because i am a first cousin, 5 generations removed to meriwether as my 3rd ggrandmother was jane meriwether lewis, meriwethers 1st cousin, i have heard all of the stories multiple times with the unfortunate nonresolution regarding his death circumstances. The death of meriwether lewis tennessee reads overdrive. If you are interested in united states history, this is a book for. It is inexcusable for a respected newspaper such as the post to have left uncorrected an inaccuracy such as that expressed in elizabeth foxwells letter concerning the death of meriwether lewis. It is so persuasive that youll start to think that the story of lewis death is perhaps more. The death of meriwether lewis meriwether lewis was one of the travelers that were given the mission of traveling from the colonies to the pacific ocean, the mission of discovery.
Host liane hansen speaks to historians john jackson and. Completely metamorphosed in the american west letters, november 2001. His father, who had been an officer in the american revolution, died when lewis was five years old, and for. After triumphantly leading the lewis and clark expedition, meriwether lewis was either murdered or committed suicide. No, it was meant to conceal a conspiracy to assassinate meriwether lewis. Can neellys letter to president jefferson reporting the news of lewis s death be trusted, despite the fact that john brahan wrote it.
A historic crime scene investigation that it was more than just murderit was political assassination. Born near charlottesville, virginia to william and lucy meriwether lewis, faced the world with opportunity and advantage. If this is the first book on him you have read i think you will probably not care for the book. It was a constant reminder of his role in the death of meriwether lewis. Apr 04, 20 the death of meriwether lewis has been controversial since the great explorer drew his last breath. October 11, 2009 marks the bicentennial of meriwether lewiss death. On her deathbed, she finished the final page of her last book. In his biography of lewis, richard dillon asks, is it likely that the cause of lewiss death was selfmurder. The character of meriwether lewis is not an academic book. Kira gale, coauthor of the death of meriwether lewis, argues that lewis who died 200 years ago did not commit suicide as is widely believed. Unintentional asmr kira gale relaxing voice discussion. Meriwether lewis 17741809 diplomat, explorer, scientist, governor, soldier, and the official leader of the lewis and clark expedition, meriwether lewis has been called undoubtedly the greatest pathfinder this country has ever known. See all books authored by meriwether lewis, including the journals of lewis and clark, and the journals of the lewis and clark expedition, volume 2. Chuinard, the authority on the medical history of the lewis and clark expedition, took a similar position in a journal article published.
Plausible cases for conspiracy and murder have been made and too quickly. The mysterious death of meriwether lewis mental floss. It tries to answer some of those questions we have wondered. Meriwether lewis death and burial site natchez trace. Upon publishing my finding of neurosyphilis as the probable underlying cause of the death of meriwether lewis in 1809, i sent a copy to stephen ambrose and soon received this reply. Jeffersons day such an assault might have ended in a duel, but in ours it has led to a useful dialogue about the life, character, and untimely death of meriwether lewis. Apparently, most of the men on the expedition had intercourse with indian women.
In a sense the title gives it away, the life and death of meriwether lewis. The mysterious death of meriwether lewis page 2 legends. Its a book written for people who love this episode in american history and who are puzzled about the life, character, achievement, and violent death of meriwether lewis. Jeffersons day such an assault might have ended in a duel, but in ours it has led to a useful dialogue about the life, character, and untimely death of. Drew i struggled for years to decode why going to work, socializing in loud places, and taking trips with large groups were so draining. Meriwether lewis mysterious death history smithsonian. A historic crime scene investigation, in which the authors examine the death of meriweather lewis on october 11, 1809. Most at the time, including jefferson, thought lewis committed suicide, while here the author leans against the idea that such a heroic and strong figure would have taken his own life. One book i read about lewis and clark, discussed possible reasons for lewiss death and postulated that lewis suffered from syphilis and took his own life. Meriwether lewis mysterious death history smithsonian magazine. Born to william lewis and lucy meriwether, meriwether. Recently revealed truths and deconstructed myths are woven together in this fascinating account to form an unforgettable tale of political corru. The last part of the book is concerned with lewis early death.
The mysterious death of meriwether lewis ron burns, author st. Captain meriwether lewis was only 35 when he died of gunshot wounds to the head and abdomen on october 10, 1809. In 20, on the nashville episode of the comedy central series drunk history, alie ward and georgia hardstark retold the story of lewis and clarks expedition and lewis death, with tony hale portraying. Mar 23, 1999 the strange death of governor meriwether lewis.
Authors kira gale and james e starrs claim in their book the murder of meriwether lewis. A number of myths surrounding his life and death persist. Was meriwether lewis s death a suicide, an accident, or a homicide. Meriwether lewis was found mortally wounded on october 11, 1809. Robert grinder, owner of the grinders stand, the inn where lewis died, was allegedly accused of murder, but the charges were said to have been dropped for lack of evidence.
The mysterious death of meriwether lewis by ron burns. Kira gale, coauthor of the death of meriwether lewis, argues that lewis who died 200 years ago did not commit suicide as is widely. As the leader of the lewis and clark expedition, an epic exploration of uncharted territory west of the mississippi, lewis has been the subject of several biographies, yet much of the published information is unreliable. Meriwether lewis suicide or assassination omaha magazine. Dec 17, 2009 kira gale, coauthor of the death of meriwether lewis, argues that lewis who died 200 years ago did not commit suicide as is widely believed. Newscom controversy over lewis death has descendants and scholars campaigning to. Kira gale upset the historical establishment when she argued that the death of meriwether lewis was the result of assassination, not suicide. If your interested in the death of meriwether lewis this is a very good follow up book.
Louis to washington in september, 1809 to protest the federal governments. Perhaps there is not an answer but at least you have some very intelligent people talking about their feild of profession. If there is such a person as the antisuicide type, it was meriwether lewis. William howard adams laments that while evidence strongly points to murder, lewis was officially declared a suicide. Why i believe meriwether lewis was assassinated history. Inquest into meriwether lewis death 0 hohenwald, tenn. He later served as governor of upper louisiana territory. Gale in two books, 2009s the death of meriwether lewis. Oct 11, 2009 how meriwether lewis might have really died sunday is the bicentennial of explorer meriwether lewis s death. It is so persuasive that youll start to think that the story of lewis death is perhaps more important than the lewis and clark expedition. Another theory, put forward by historian kira gale in two books, 2009s the death of meriwether lewis.
Although this book was written in 1962, this is a 1995 reprint. The natchez trace was a rough area, infested with highwaymen and other unsavory people. The mysterious death of meriwether lewis jstor daily. In his biography of lewis, richard dillon asks, is it likely that the cause of lewis s death was selfmurder. This book takes for granted that you know the key players are, and how the differant death. Visions of america in the lewis and clark journals, furtwangler writes, no matter how one takes these lines from neellys letter to jefferson, as artless report or contrived cover story, they make a demeaning end for a man like lewis. I found the book easy to read and enjoyed learning more about lewis and his times. It also stated that lewis was rejected by a women he loved due to this condition. The strange death of governor meriwether lewis, the author vardes fisher raised questions about the reliability of mrs. If the american west, meriwether lewis, and thomas jefferson fascinate you, consider further reading in this book by stephen ambrose.
The mysterious death of meriwether lewis old trace those who believe meriwether lewis took his own life have differing theories regarding his reasons, including depression, personal problems, and some type of debilitating illness. The mysterious death of meriwether lewis legends of america. Jan 25, 2019 after triumphantly leading the lewis and clark expedition, meriwether lewis was either murdered or committed suicide. Meriwether lewis august 18, 1774 october 11, 1809 was an american explorer, soldier. A historic crime scene investigation and 2015s meriwether lewis. The death of meriwether lewis by kira gale goodreads. Lewis was born to a virginia planter family in 1774. A biography of churchill does not call itself the life and death of winston churchill, any more than a biography of. One wants his death to be a fitting conclusion to his life. Dyes book was also instrumental in promoting a more prominent. Research into the explorers lewis and william clark consumed her life, up until the very end. At thirteen, he was sent back to virginia for education by private tutors. Even after more than two centuries, mystery continues to surround meriwether lewiss deathdid the famous explorer commit suicide or was he murdered.
A historic crime scene investigation, published in 2009. The intrigue surrounding the famous explorers untimely death has spawned a cottage industry of books and articles, with experts from a variety of. The death of meriwether lewis has been controversial since the great explorer drew his last breath. Patricia tyson stroud meriwether lewis was selected by thomas jefferson to lead the expedition to explore the louisiana purchase, he was later rewarded by jefferson with the governorship of the entire louisiana territory. Explorers meriwether lewis and william clark blazed a trail west of the mississippi river in the early 1800s. Kira gale talks about the book she cowrote, the death of meriwether lewis. She is cofounder of the mouth of the platte chapter of the lewis and clark. After williams death in 1781, lucy remarried and moved the family to georgia when meriwether was ten.
Aug 30, 2019 another theory, put forward by historian kira gale in two books, 2009s the death of meriwether lewis. Meriwether lewis books list of books by author meriwether lewis. After lewis got back from the expedition, he was assigned the role of governor of the upper half of the louisiana purchase. Stroud also examined the relationship between thomas jefferson and meriwether lewis. Gale is a coauthor of the death of meriwether lewis. Book claims explorer meriwether lewis died by assassination, not. Meriwether lewis death and burial site is located on the natchez trace parkway at milepost 385. The book is well written and meticulously researched. How meriwether lewis might have really died sunday is the bicentennial of explorer meriwether lewiss death. The mystery surrounding meriwether lewis death played a role in the 2016 book, the secret history of twin peaks, by author mark frost. On october 11th, 1809, meriwether lewis died of gunshot wounds at grinders stand, an inn on the natchez trace some seventy miles southwest of nashville. Nearly two centuries later, mystery continues to surro. The enduring mystery of meriwether lewis washington.
The author did an indepth analysis of his work and life. Like a crime scene investigation, it begins with more than 200 pages of expert testimony at an inquest as to whether or not to exhume the body of lewis and clarks meriwether lewis. Can neellys letter to president jefferson reporting the news of lewiss death be trusted, despite the fact that john brahan wrote it. Oct 08, 2019 however, in a 1962 book, suicide or murder.
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