Oregon Focus: People to Know: Captain William Clark About
Captain William Clark William Clark was born near
Charlottesville, Virginia, in the the county next the family
farm where Meriwether Lewis lived. They considered themselves to
be near neighbors, and the two boys grew up as close friends,
although Clark was four years older than Lewis. William Clark
was the ninth child in the family. George Rogers Clark, who
distinguished himself as a soldier in the Midwest, was older
brother. When Clark was 14, the family moved to Kentucky.
Although he had little formal schooling, he developed self-
reliance and boldness that made him stand out as a leader. At 19
he joined the infantry, and two years later became a captain in
the militia. He was promoted to lieutenant in the regular army
infantry and served under Mad Anthony Wayne. By the time Clark
was 25, his capacity for leadership was rewarded. On one
assignment, Meriwether Lewis served under him with Wayne's
troops. Later, when Lewis was planning the historic exped