Biography of william clark for kids

Home / Historical Figures / Biography of william clark for kids

In July, Lewis and Clark split up to see if they could find a faster route back.

  • Clark took some of the group with him to explore along the Yellowstone River.

    biography of william clark for kids

    Clark set up his main office in St. Louis, Missouri, where he lived for most of his life.

    Clark's experiences during his expedition helped him become a good diplomat for Native Americans. They had five children:

    • Meriwether Lewis Clark, Sr. (1809–1881), named after his friend Lewis.
    • William Preston Clark (1811–1840).
    • Mary Margaret Clark (1814–1821).
    • George Rogers Hancock Clark (1816–1858), named after his older brother.
    • John Julius Clark (1818–1831).

    After Julia died in 1820, William Clark married her cousin, Harriet Kennerly Radford.

    He also established Fort Shelby, which was the first post in what we now know as Wisconsin.

    12: Following the death of Sacagawea, one of the guides of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, in December 1812, William Clark adopted her two children Jean Baptiste and Lizette.

    13: In 1813 President Madison appointed William Clark as Governor of the newly formed Missouri Territory.

    Clark held this job until he died. Harriet died in 1831.

    16: William Clark died aged 68 on 1st September 1838 in St. Louis. This was a new position. He worked under Meriwether Lewis, who had become the Governor of Louisiana Territory and had the final say on all decisions.

    10: In his dealings with the native Indians, William Clark demonstrated mixed feelings.

    He was a governor of the Missouri Territory. Lewis was an experienced outdoorsman, and Clark was an experienced soldier as well as a mapmaker. Alexander McNair won the election.

    In 1822, President Monroe appointed Clark as the Superintendent of Indian Affairs. He was the most important person dealing with Native American matters west of the Mississippi River.

    Clark tried to keep peace with Native American nations and signed peace treaties.

    He helped establish Fort Shelby in what is now Wisconsin.

    When the Missouri Territory was created in 1813, President Madison appointed Clark as its governor. 1808; died 1820)​

  • Harriet Kennerly Radford

    (m. The first marriage was to Julia Hancock, in 1808, and produced five children.

    They also needed to trade with Native Americans and show that the U.S. owned the land. Clark expressed sympathy for these tribes. He understood their cultures and languages. They had three children together:

    • Jefferson Kearny Clark (1824–1900), named after the president.
    • Edmund Clark (1826–1827).
    • Harriet Clark (died as a child).

    His second wife, Harriet, died in 1831.

    Clark also acted as a guardian for Jean Baptiste Charbonneau.

    They called it Fort Clatsop, and when winter was over, they started preparations for their return trip. He was involved in fights with Indians during the Northwest Indian War. At the Battle of Fallen Timbers in 1794, Clark led a group of riflemen.