Meriwether Lewis Clark Sr. facts for kids
Meriwether Lewis Clark (born January 10, 1809 – died October 28, 1881) was a talented architect, a civil engineer, and a politician. He also served as a military officer in two important wars: the Mexican-American War and the American Civil War. He was the son of the famous explorer William Clark, who was part of the well-known Lewis and Clark Expedition.
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Early Life and First Jobs
Meriwether Lewis Clark was born in St. Louis, Missouri. His father, William Clark, was a leader of the Corps of Discovery expedition. Meriwether was named after his father's good friend and fellow explorer, Meriwether Lewis.
In 1826, he started studying at the United States Military Academy, also known as West Point. He graduated in 1830. After graduating, he became a second lieutenant in the 6th U.S. Infantry. He worked as an officer and helped create maps during the Black Hawk War. He left the army in 1833.
While working in Louisville, Kentucky, Clark met Abigail Prather Churchill. They got married in January 1834. They had seven children together before she passed away in 1852. Their son, Meriwether Lewis Clark Jr., later became famous in Louisville. He helped promote horse racing and, with his family's help, built the famous Churchill Downs racetrack.
As an architect, Clark helped design early buildings in St. Louis. One of his designs was the St. Vincent de Paul Roman Catholic Church. In 1836, he was elected to the Missouri General Assembly, which is like the state's government. Four years later, he became the city engineer for St. Louis. He also worked as a recorder for the city court.
Serving in the Mexican-American War
In 1846, during the Mexican War, Clark rejoined the military. He became a major in the Missouri volunteers. He commanded a group of three light artillery companies. Artillery means large guns, like cannons. He fought in the Battle of the Sacramento River near Chihuahua City on February 28, 1847.
After the Mexican-American War, Clark went back to St. Louis. He worked as the Federal surveyor-general for Missouri and Illinois until 1853. This job involved surveying land for the government.
Role in the Civil War
When the American Civil War began in 1861, Clark strongly supported the Southern states that wanted to separate from the Union. The Governor of Missouri, Claiborne F. Jackson, asked Clark to help organize new soldiers. Clark was made a brigadier general in the Missouri State Guard. However, his unit was never fully formed because many people in St. Louis supported the Union. Clark left the Guard in November 1861.
He then joined the Confederate States Army as a major in the artillery. He was later promoted to colonel. He held various important positions, including Chief of Artillery for the Army of Mississippi. This army was led by General Braxton Bragg. Clark had disagreements with General Bragg and was removed from his position.
After that, he worked in the Ordnance Department in Richmond, Virginia. This department was in charge of military supplies and weapons. In November 1864, he took command of a group of Virginia Reserve Forces. These forces were part of the Army of Northern Virginia, led by General Robert E. Lee. During the Appomattox Campaign, Clark was captured by Union forces. This happened at the Battle of Sayler's Creek on April 6, 1865.
Life After the War
After the Civil War ended, Clark moved to Louisville, Kentucky. He continued his career as an engineer. He married Jula Davidson on December 30, 1865. He was the main architect for the design and building of several state buildings in Kentucky. Later, he became the commander of cadets at the Kentucky Military Institute, which was a military school.
Meriwether Lewis Clark passed away in Frankfort, Kentucky, in 1881. He is buried in Bellefontaine Cemetery in St. Louis, Missouri.
