Details
LEWIS, MERIWETHER, 1774-1809, Explorer, Governor of Louisiana. Autograph document signed ("Meriwether Lewis," with flourish), St. Louis, 13 April 1809. 1 page, an oblong, 123 x 200mm. (4 13/16 x 7 7/8 in.), docketed on verso, very lightly browned..
THE GREAT WESTERN EXPLORER AS GOVERNOR OF LOUISIANA
Meriwether Lewis directs a payment order to "The President and Directors of the Bank of the United States," directing authorizes a payment: "On sight, my second of this...No. and date remaining unpaid, pay to Jacob Philipson, on order, the sum of five hundred Dollars for value received..."
Lewis had served as President Thomas Jefferson's private secretary during Jefferson's first years in the White House, but in 1803 happily reliquished his Washington duties to take command of the party sent from St.Louis to survey and explore the vast lands acquired by the U.S. from France in the Louisiana Purchase from France. Lewis and Clark's epic overland expedition lasted two years; in 1807 Jefferson appointed him Governor of Louisiana (a territory inluding all lands north of the present state of Louisiana). "His even-handed justice, his humanity and honesty gave the province the administration it needed. He organized the militia, had the laws codified and aided Clark, who had been appointed superintendant of Indian affairs, in negotiating with the Indians" (Dictionary of American Biography. Lewis died at age 25, only five months after this document was signed, while en route to Washington (his death has been termed murder by some, suicide by others, but remains a troubling and unexplained tragedy).
THE GREAT WESTERN EXPLORER AS GOVERNOR OF LOUISIANA
Meriwether Lewis directs a payment order to "The President and Directors of the Bank of the United States," directing authorizes a payment: "On sight, my second of this...No. and date remaining unpaid, pay to Jacob Philipson, on order, the sum of five hundred Dollars for value received..."
Lewis had served as President Thomas Jefferson's private secretary during Jefferson's first years in the White House, but in 1803 happily reliquished his Washington duties to take command of the party sent from St.Louis to survey and explore the vast lands acquired by the U.S. from France in the Louisiana Purchase from France. Lewis and Clark's epic overland expedition lasted two years; in 1807 Jefferson appointed him Governor of Louisiana (a territory inluding all lands north of the present state of Louisiana). "His even-handed justice, his humanity and honesty gave the province the administration it needed. He organized the militia, had the laws codified and aided Clark, who had been appointed superintendant of Indian affairs, in negotiating with the Indians" (Dictionary of American Biography. Lewis died at age 25, only five months after this document was signed, while en route to Washington (his death has been termed murder by some, suicide by others, but remains a troubling and unexplained tragedy).