N3810

Lewis & Clark Expedition - Bicentennial

Fred's Anecdotal Note

Private George Shannon

George was born in Pennsylvania in 1785 and moved with his family to Ohio in 1800. At 18 he was the youngest man on the expedition and was of the same social status as the captains. Of Irish descent, he had strong athletic abilities, was a superb horseman, an excellent marksman, and had a great singing voice. The captains had the utmost confidence in him, and he was the 'back-up" for the duties of the sergeants. On August 26, 1804 he became separated from the Corps and was lost for 16 days thinking the keelboat was ahead of him. On September 11th as he sat by the river, the boat came around a bend and spotted him. What a joyous reunion!

The confident young man who lived history with Lewis and Clark and saw such sights as the Pacific Ocean, Rocky Mountains, and Great Falls of the Missouri, went onto a distinguished career. By 1818 he was a lawyer in Kentucky and in 1820 and 1822 was elected to the State House of Representatives. Later, he became a state senator in Missouri. In 1810 he had assisted Nicholas Biddle edit the Lewis and Clark journals. How fortunate we are that he was there to give firsthand perspectives to their notes and relate the grand adventure from personal experience.