Meriwether Lewis Suicide Essay
The death of Meriwether Lewis: suicide or murder?
BY: Akcire Alston
October 11, 1809 was a date that lead too many unanswered questions and confused people, the day of Meriwether Lewis’ death. Meriwether Lewis was the governor of the upper Louisiana territory and a leader in the Lewis & Clark expedition. Lewis died of 2 Gunshot wounds, one to his head and the other to his stomach. His death was initially ruled as a suicide and many people believed that theory besides Lewis’ family. More theories and conspiracies were made that made more people have different believes on the topic. Meriwether Lewis committed suicide because of becoming overwhelmed by personal problems and physical disease.
Meriwether Lewis dealt with many personal problems which …show more content…
Ravenholt and Thomas C. Danisi Meriwether Lewis could have become overwhelmed by a physical disease. Ravonholt (who is a physician and epidemiologist) believes that Lewis was suffering from paresis which is a condition of muscular weakness caused by brain damage from untreated syphilis which could have killed him. Lewis’ behavior shortly before his death were like those afflicted with paresis. Ravenholt also believed that,” Lewis realized what was happening to him, and rather than cast a shadow upon those who loved and respected him, he ended his life.”which implies that he ended his own life. Danisi (who is a long-term Lewis and Clark scholar) believes that malaria was the disease afflicting Lewis.” Most people who lived in the Mississippi River Valley during the 19th century contracted malaria, which was spread by mosquitos.” Per the theories and interpretations of Meriwether Lewis’ death packet which proves how Lewis could have easily gotten maleria. Malaria was a reoccurring disease so Lewis could have gotten afflicted by it multiple times, Malaria also has stronger/ weaker effects depending on the person. Malaria creates unbearable pain to certain parts of the patient’s body and to get relief patients are known to try to “kill” the pain and sometimes end up killing themselves in the process which is a way that Lewis could have possibly committed
BY: Akcire Alston
October 11, 1809 was a date that lead too many unanswered questions and confused people, the day of Meriwether Lewis’ death. Meriwether Lewis was the governor of the upper Louisiana territory and a leader in the Lewis & Clark expedition. Lewis died of 2 Gunshot wounds, one to his head and the other to his stomach. His death was initially ruled as a suicide and many people believed that theory besides Lewis’ family. More theories and conspiracies were made that made more people have different believes on the topic. Meriwether Lewis committed suicide because of becoming overwhelmed by personal problems and physical disease.
Meriwether Lewis dealt with many personal problems which …show more content…
Ravenholt and Thomas C. Danisi Meriwether Lewis could have become overwhelmed by a physical disease. Ravonholt (who is a physician and epidemiologist) believes that Lewis was suffering from paresis which is a condition of muscular weakness caused by brain damage from untreated syphilis which could have killed him. Lewis’ behavior shortly before his death were like those afflicted with paresis. Ravenholt also believed that,” Lewis realized what was happening to him, and rather than cast a shadow upon those who loved and respected him, he ended his life.”which implies that he ended his own life. Danisi (who is a long-term Lewis and Clark scholar) believes that malaria was the disease afflicting Lewis.” Most people who lived in the Mississippi River Valley during the 19th century contracted malaria, which was spread by mosquitos.” Per the theories and interpretations of Meriwether Lewis’ death packet which proves how Lewis could have easily gotten maleria. Malaria was a reoccurring disease so Lewis could have gotten afflicted by it multiple times, Malaria also has stronger/ weaker effects depending on the person. Malaria creates unbearable pain to certain parts of the patient’s body and to get relief patients are known to try to “kill” the pain and sometimes end up killing themselves in the process which is a way that Lewis could have possibly committed