William Clark

NAME William Clark

WHAT FAMOUS FOR William Clark is best known as the co-leader of the Lewis and Clark Expedition (1804–1806), commissioned by President Thomas Jefferson to explore the Louisiana Purchase and find a practical route across the western half of North America to the Pacific Ocean.

BIRTH August 1, 1770, in Caroline County, Virginia, British America.

FAMILY BACKGROUND Clark was born into a prominent family. His father, John Clark III, was a planter and soldier, and his mother, Ann Rogers, came from a distinguished family. 

He had five older brothers, all of whom fought in the American Revolutionary War. His oldest brother, Jonathan Clark, became a brigadier general in the Virginia militia, while another brother, George Rogers Clark, became famous for his military campaigns in Kentucky during the war.

CHILDHOOD Clark grew up in Virginia and Kentucky. His family moved to Kentucky in 1785, settling on a plantation called "Mulberry Hill" near Louisville. 

Living on the Kentucky frontier, Clark learned many valuable outdoor skills. His older brother, George Rogers Clark, who was a military hero of the American Revolution, played a significant role in teaching William wilderness survival skills.

EDUCATION Clark did not have any formal education, a fact that made him self-conscious in later years. Like many of his contemporaries, he was tutored at home. Despite his convoluted grammar and inconsistent spelling—he spelled "Sioux" 27 different ways in his journals—his vocabulary suggests he was well-read. He sought to have his journals corrected before publication due to these inconsistencies.

CAREER RECORD Clark's career spanned several areas, from soldier to explorer, and eventually, politician. His most notable role was as the co-leader of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, which charted vast unknown territories of the western United States. After the expedition, he was appointed governor of the Missouri Territory and later served as the Superintendent of Indian Affairs.

APPEARANCE Clark was described as tall and physically strong, with a commanding presence fitting for a man of his military and leadership roles. The Mandan people called William Clark "Chief Redhead" because of his red hair.

Clark had graying hair in his later years, which he wore tied in a queue (a ponytail), a style he had maintained since his younger days as an officer.

His eyes were described as capable of studying, measuring, and assimilating all he observed1.

 Clark was known for having lips that could "spring to an ever-ready smile or laugh".

Clark was often portrayed with a stoic mien (facial expression), which was described as habitual1. This suggests he had a serious, composed demeanor.

Portrait by Charles Willson Peale, c. 1810

FASHION Clark's fashion was typical of the frontier men of his era - practical and durable clothing suited to long wilderness treks and military duties. He wore a variety of coats, breeches, and boots, depending on the occasion.

CHARACTER Clark was known for his leadership skills and bravery during the expedition. However, he was also habitually cruel toward the people he enslaved, regularly whipping them and denying them freedoms, as evidenced by his treatment of York, his slave.

SENSE OF HUMOUR Clark had a dry sense of humor, which he often used to lighten the mood during difficult times. For example when the expedition was at Fort Clatsop dealing with rainy weather and food shortages, Clark made a humorous comment about a beached whale they encountered:

"I thank providence for directing the whale to us and think him much more kind to us that he was to Jonah; having sent his monster to be swallowed by us instead of swallowing of us as Jonah's did."

RELATIONSHIPS Clark married Julia Hancock on January 5, 1808, in Fincastle, Virginia.  Julia was only 16 years old at the time of their marriage, while Clark was 37 They had five children together: Meriwether Lewis Clark Sr., William Preston Clark, Mary Margaret Clark, George Rogers Hancock Clark, and John Julius Clark. Julia died on June 27, 1820.

Julia Clark

After Julia's death, Clark married Harriet Kennerly Radford on November 28, 1821, in St. Louis. Harriet was Julia's cousin and the widow of Dr. John Radford They had three children together: Jefferson Kearny Clark, Edmund Clark, and Harriet Clark

Both marriages were said to be affectionate.

MONEY AND FAME Clark gained considerable fame following the successful return of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. While not wealthy, his roles as a government official provided him with financial stability.

FOOD AND DRINK During the Lewis and Clark Expedition, Clark and the team survived on whatever food was available, which often included game, fish, and wild plants. His journals mention various hunting expeditions for survival.

He also drank a variety of alcoholic beverages, including whiskey and beer.

MUSIC AND ARTS Clark was involved in recruiting members for the expedition, including Private George Gibson, who was known to play the fiddle. The expedition used "fiddle diplomacy" to establish good relations with Native American tribes they encountered. Clark and Lewis found that the Indigenous people they met enjoyed the fiddling and dancing, which helped in securing safe passage and trading for supplies

In his journal entries, Clark mentioned instances of music and dancing. For example, he wrote about an event on June 11, 1804, where some of their men went to a Native American village to dance at the request of the locals. 

LITERATURE Clark kept detailed journals throughout his life, starting with his first military expedition at age 19. His  journals are a significant contribution to American literature, providing detailed accounts of his expeditions, though he was self-conscious about his writing abilities due to his lack of formal education.

NATURE Clark had a deep appreciation for nature, spending much of his life in the wilderness. His skills in navigation and survival were critical to the success of the Lewis and Clark Expedition.

PETS Clark traveled with Seaman, a Newfoundland dog belonging to Meriwether Lewis, who accompanied the expedition. The dog's fate after the journey remains unknown.

HOBBIES AND SPORTS Clark was skilled in wilderness survival, which involved activities like hunting, fishing, and navigating through difficult terrains.

SCIENCE AND MATHS During the Lewis and Clark expedition, Clark contributed to recording the first scientific descriptions of some 300 animal and plant species.  Below "Candlefish" or "Eulachon" (Thaleichthys pacificus) art is the first ever documentation of this species in Clark's journal on February 25, 1806.

PHILOSOPHY & THEOLOGY Clark’s journals suggest that he had a pragmatic worldview shaped by his frontier experiences rather than by formal philosophical or theological study.

Clark was described as "religious but not narrowly sectarian" by his biographer William Foley.

Clark attributed the success of the Lewis and Clark expedition to "a singular interposition of providence" rather than to his or Lewis's genius

POLITICS After the expedition, Clark became a prominent political figure, serving as the governor of the Missouri Territory and later as Superintendent of Indian Affairs.

SCANDAL Clark's treatment of his slave York is often cited as a major blot on his legacy. Despite York's significant contributions to the Lewis and Clark Expedition, Clark denied him freedom for years and treated him cruelly.

MILITARY RECORD Clark served as a lieutenant in the Kentucky militia and later fought in the Northwest Indian War. His military experience made him a natural choice to co-lead the expedition with Meriwether Lewis.

HEALTH AND PHYSICAL FITNESS Clark was known for his physical endurance, which was essential during the 8,000-mile journey of the Lewis and Clark Expedition.

n late 1834, Clark suffered a small stroke that left him with palsy. This event marked a significant downturn in his health. Following the stroke, Clark became physically weak and unsteady on his feet.  By early 1838, Clark was suffering from dizzy spells and had fallen several times.

HOMES Clark grew up at Mulberry Hill near Louisville, Kentucky, and later resided in St. Louis, Missouri, during his political career.

TRAVEL Imagine this: You're standing on the edge of a vast, unexplored continent, a land shrouded in mystery and promise. Meriwether Lewis, a young and ambitious army officer, had been tasked with leading an expedition to explore this new frontier, the Louisiana Purchase. But he knew he couldn't do it alone. So he turned to a man named William Clark, a seasoned soldier with a reputation for his leadership and survival skills.

Together, Lewis and Clark assembled a ragtag band of explorers, soldiers, and a slave named York, and set off on a journey that would change the course of American history. Their mission was simple: to find a waterway from the Mississippi River to the Pacific Ocean, claim the Oregon Territory for the United States, and establish trade with the Native American tribes they encountered along the way.

It was a daunting task, but Lewis and Clark were up to the challenge. They braved treacherous rivers, scaled towering mountains, and endured harsh winters, all while documenting their discoveries and building relationships with the indigenous peoples they met. Clark, in particular, proved to be a valuable asset, with his keen eye for detail and his ability to navigate through unfamiliar territory.

But their journey wasn't without its challenges. The expedition faced constant threats from hostile tribes, treacherous weather, and the ever-present danger of disease. And while Lewis and Clark were determined to succeed, they were also aware of the immense responsibility they carried. They knew that their actions could have a profound impact on the future of the United States.

In the end, Lewis and Clark's expedition was a resounding success. They mapped out a vast swath of territory, established trade with numerous Native American tribes, and claimed the Oregon Territory for the United States. Their discoveries helped to solidify America's claim to the West and paved the way for future exploration and settlement.

DEATH William Clark died on September 1, 1838, in St. Louis, Missouri, at the age of 68.

Clark was originally buried in 1838 at his nephew John O'Fallon's property, which is now known as O'Fallon Park in St. Louis. On October 23, 1860, Clark and six of his family members were moved and reburied at Bellefontaine Cemetery. His grave is marked by an impressive 35-foot gray granite obelisk monument, which was dedicated in 1904 on the centennial anniversary of the Louisiana Purchase. The monument was designed by Clark's son, Jefferson Kearney Clark, who paid $25,000 for it.

The monument was later restored and rededicated on May 21, 2004, to mark the bicentennial of the Lewis and Clark Expedition's departure from St. Charles, Missouri.

APPEARANCES IN MEDIA. William Clark has appeared in various media portrayals, primarily focused on the Lewis and Clark expedition. Here are the key appearances:

Documentaries:

Lewis & Clark: The Journey of the Corps of Discovery (1997) - A highly regarded Ken Burns documentary where Murphy Guyer voiced William Clark.

Lewis & Clark: Great Journey West (2002) - A National Geographic documentary.

TV Series:

The Men Who Built America: Frontiersmen (2018) - A History Channel docudrama series that included an episode on Lewis and Clark.

Into the Wild Frontier (2022) - An INSP network series featuring Lewis and Clark.

Films:

The Far Horizons (1955) - A fictionalized account of the expedition, though the search results don't specify who played Clark.

ACHIEVEMENTS

Clark's greatest achievement was the successful completion of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, which provided invaluable maps, scientific data, and knowledge about the western territories. He was posthumously promoted to the rank of captain by President Bill Clinton in 2001.