The Columbia Country The Northwest lying between California and Canada, and the Rocky Mountains and the Pacific Ocean. In 1792 visited by Captain Robert Gray of the American ship _Columbia_ from Boston, who entered and named the Columbia. The same year visited by Captain George Vancouver, an English navigator. Claimed by both the United States and England. Awarded to the United States by treaty of 1846. THE RANK AND FILE _Captain Meriwether Lewis_ (The Long Knife) Born August 18, 1774, of Scotch ancestry, on the Ivy Creek plantation near Charlottesville, Albemarle Co., Virginia, and three miles from Monticello, the estate of Thomas Jefferson. Father――William Lewis. Mother――Lucy Meriwether. Having fought bravely through the Revolution, after the successful siege of Yorktown ending the war, his father dies, in 1782. In due time his mother marries a friend of the family, Captain John Marks, and removes to Georgia. Little Meriwether is reared, with his brother Reuben and his sister Jane, younger than he, at Locust Hill, the family home, and also spends much time at “The Farm,” of his uncle Nicholas Lewis, adjoining Monticello. A lad of bold spirit, at eight years of age he is accustomed to sally forth alone with his dogs, at night, and hunt. At thirteen, is placed in a Latin school, under Parson Maury, to study. At eighteen, in 1792, he volunteers to Thomas Jefferson, then President Washington’s Secretary of State, to explore up the Missouri River to the Pacific Coast for the American Philosophical Society. A distinguished scientist, André Michaux, is selected, but the plan is given up. At twenty, volunteers in the militia, at the call of President Washington for troops to put down the Whiskey Rebellion in Western Pennsylvania. Is soon commissioned a lieutenant in the regular army. At twenty-three, commissioned captain. At twenty-seven, in 1801, is appointed by President Jefferson his private secretary. At twenty-nine, in 1803, is appointed by the president to head the government exploring expedition up the Missouri River and on across to the Pacific Ocean. Leaves Washington July 5, 1803. 1804—1805—1806 is engaged in the exploration. The Indians name him the Long Knife. 1807, appointed governor of Louisiana Territory, with headquarters in St. Louis.