Clark, William, 1770–1838, American explorer, one of the leaders of the Lewis and Clark expedition Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail (see National Parks and Monuments , table).

The importance of the well-planned, well-executed expedition (only one person had been lost) was enormous.
..... Click the link for more information. , b. Caroline co., Va.; brother of George Rogers Clark Clark, George Rogers, 1752–1818, American Revolutionary general, conqueror of the Old Northwest, b. near Charlottesville, Va.; brother of William Clark .
..... Click the link for more information. . He was an army officer (1792–96), serving in a number of engagements with Native Americans. In 1803 he was chosen by his friend Meriwether Lewis Lewis, Meriwether, 1774–1809, American explorer, one of the leaders of the Lewis and Clark expedition , b. near Charlottesville, Va. He was a captain in the army and served in a number of campaigns against Native Americans before becoming (1801) secretary to
..... Click the link for more information. to accompany the overland expedition to the Pacific. His observations of nature enlarged the findings of the expedition; his journals and maps recorded its history. In 1807, after the expedition had returned, Clark was appointed superintendent of Indian affairs, with headquarters at St. Louis, and from 1813 to 1821 he was governor of Missouri Territory. During the War of 1812, he led (1814) an expedition against the British and Native Americans in the upper Mississippi valley; upon reaching Prairie du Chien, Wis., he built Fort Shelby. Later, with Auguste Chouteau René Auguste Chouteau, 1749–1829, b. New Orleans, accompanied (1763) his stepfather, Pierre Laclede , on a trading expedition to the Illinois country and established (1764) the post that became St. Louis.
..... Click the link for more information. , he negotiated a number of important treaties with Native American tribes and aided in suppressing the Winnebago and Black Hawk uprisings. He was again superintendent of Indian affairs from 1821 until his death.

Bibliography

See bibliography under Lewis and Clark expedition.

Clark, William

(born Aug. 1, 1770, Caroline county, Va.—died Sept. 1, 1838, St. Louis, Mo., U.S.) U.S. explorer and soldier. The brother of George Rogers Clark, he joined the army and participated in Indian campaigns under Anthony Wayne. After resigning his commission, he was recruited by his former army friend Meriwether Lewis to help lead the first overland expedition to the Pacific coast and back. Proving a daring and resourceful leader, he is credited with rescuing the famed Lewis and Clark Expedition (1804–06) from disaster on more than one occasion. He also served as mapmaker and artist, portraying with meticulous detail animal life observed en route. Later, as governor of the Missouri Territory (1813–21), he became known for his effective diplomacy with the Indians.

Clark, William (1770–1838) soldier, explorer; born in Caroline County, Va. (brother of George Rogers Clark). He entered the U.S. Army (1789) and fought under General Anthony Wayne. He resigned from the army (1796) and tended to his family's estate. He shared command of the famous Lewis and Clark expedition (1804–06) with Meriwether Lewis; among his various contributions to its success were his fine maps and his illustrations of the animals of the territory. He was brigadier general of militia and superintendent of Indian affairs for the Louisiana Territory (1807–13) and governor of the Missouri Territory (1813–20). He established Fort Shelby, the first U.S. post in Wisconsin (1814), and negotiated treaties with various Indian tribes. He was surveyor general for Illinois, Missouri, and Arkansas (1824–25).