Historical person
William Clark
1770–1838
William Clark was an American soldier, explorer, Indian agent and territorial governor who jointly commanded the Lewis and Clark Expedition. His maps and field leadership were central to the expedition, while his later federal offices placed him within United States expansion and treaty-making with Indigenous nations.
Clark shared responsibility for the Corps of Discovery's route-finding, mapping, diplomacy and day-to-day command and helped bring the expedition safely back in 1806. He later served as governor of Missouri Territory and for many years as superintendent of Indian affairs. Those offices gave him substantial influence over treaties and federal policy toward Indigenous nations during the expansion of United States settlement west of the Mississippi.
Hourly History’s Lewis and Clark Expedition explains Thomas Jefferson’s aims, the leadership of Meriwether Lewis and William Clark and the crucial assistance of Sacagawea and many Indigenous communities. Additional non-fiction treatment of William Clark comes from David Hackett Fischer’s Bound Away.
Non Fiction
Non Fiction featuring William Clark (2 books)
Biographies, histories and other non-fiction are listed separately from the historical novels above.
