Who led the Lewis and Clark expedition?

The Lewis and Clark expedition, officially known as the Corps of Discovery Expedition, was led by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark from 1804 to 1806. Commissioned by President Thomas Jefferson, the objective of the expedition was to explore the newly acquired western portion of the country after the Louisiana Purchase and to find a route to the Pacific Ocean.

Meriwether Lewis, who had previously served in the U.S. Army and had experience in frontiersmanship and science, was appointed by Jefferson to lead the expedition. Lewis chose William Clark, his friend and fellow army officer, as his co-leader. Together, they traversed vast terrains, mapped uncharted areas, and established relationships with various Native American tribes, gathering invaluable information about the geography, biology, and potential resources of the western territories.

Other figures mentioned, such as Daniel Boone, were important in the context of American exploration but were not directly involved in the Lewis and Clark expedition. John C. Fremont, known later for his explorations in the West, and James Monroe, a prominent political figure who would become the fifth President of the United States, were not associated with the leadership of this specific expedition. The contributions of Lewis and Clark significantly shaped the understanding of the