William Clark

William Clark
Portrait by Charles Willson Peale, c. 1810
4th Governor of Missouri Territory
In office July 1, 1813 – September 18, 1820
Appointed by	James Madison
Preceded by	Benjamin Howard
Succeeded by	Alexander McNair
Superintendent of Indian Affairs
In office 1822 – September 1, 1838
Preceded by	Position established
Succeeded by	Thomas L. McKenney
Personal details
Born	(1770-08-01)August 1, 1770 Ladysmith, Colony of Virginia
Died	September 1, 1838(1838-09-01) (aged 68) St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
Spouses	Julia Hancock ​ ​ (m. 1808; died 1820)​ Harriet Kennerly Radford ​ ​ (m. 1820; died 1831)​
Relations	Jonathan Clark (brother) George Rogers Clark (brother)
Children	6, including Meriwether Lewis Clark, Sr.
Occupation	Soldier explorer politician
Signature
Military service
Branch/service	Infantry Artillery
Years of service	1792–1796 1804–1807
Rank	Lieutenant Second lieutenant, First lieutenant
Unit	Legion of the United States Regiment of Artillerists
Commands	Corps of Discovery
Battles/wars	Battle of Fallen Timbers

William Clark (August 1, 1770 – September 1, 1838) was an American explorer, soldier, Indian agent, and territorial governor.^[1] A native of Virginia, he grew up in pre-statehood Kentucky before later settling in what became the state of Missouri.

Along with Meriwether Lewis, Clark led the Lewis and Clark Expedition of 1804–1806 across the Louisiana Purchase to the Pacific Ocean, the first major effort to explore and map much of what is now the Western United States and to assert American claims to the Pacific Northwest.^[2] Before the expedition, he served in a militia and the United States Army. Afterward, he served in a militia and as governor of the Missouri Territory. From 1822 until his death in 1838, he served as Superintendent of Indian Affairs.