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Lewis And Clark “1774 was the birth year of Meriwether Lewis, of Albemarle County, Virginia—Meriwether Lewis, who was to become a captain in the United States Army, secretary to President Thomas Jefferson, leader of the Lewis and Clark Expedition to the pacific, Governor of Louisiana Territory and helmsman extraordinary of the American frontier.” (pg6) Meriwether Lewis was born to a prestigious family. Some of his family members include: great uncle who was a part of the King’s Council before the Revolution and “Fielding Lewis who married a sister of General Washington.” (pg7) Thomas Jefferson’s father and Meriwether Lewis’ grandfathers founded Albemarle. Lewis’ father died when he was four, and his family’s land was to be auctioned off. Jefferson, a young lawyer in Albemarle County, “warded ruin from the Lewis plantation.” (pg10) As a young boy Lewis had only one good friend by the name of Billy (William) Clark. The boys dreamed of being soldiers. When Lewis was ten and Clark 14, the Clarks moved to Kentucky and Lewis was separated from his only friend. Clark wound later join the militia and fight the Indians in Ohio. Jefferson became United States Minister to France and Lewis went off to a Latin sch