Meriwether Lewis Suicide Theory
Meriwether Lewis-a US governor and explorer most known for his part in the Lewis and Clark expedition-was found dead on the morning of October 11th, 1809. Many have rumored his death to be murder. Many theories have arisen such as assassination yet none of these theories have any substantial evidence, only speculation. There just isn’t enough evidence to go along with that theory. Meriwether Lewis was killed in the act of assisted suicide by his servant John Pernier because of pain associated with Malaria.
Many people in the Western United States contracted Malaria around the time of Lewis and Clark’s expedition. Malaria was spread by mosquito and very easily contracted. If Lewis had contracted Malaria, like said in Theories and Interpretations of Meriwether Lewis’ Death, he would have most likely gotten it during his expedition. Many people studying malaria have said that Lewis’ behavior was very similar to case studies of people who had contracted the disease. Malaria was also known to cause excruciating pain for the infected. The victim was known to harm themselves to try and “kill the pain”. If Lewis was infected, he then shot himself in the stomach to get …show more content…
Grinder’s testimony Lewis was shot in the back of the head and in the abdomen. The only way he could have successfully committed suicide was if he shot himself with two guns at the same time. This is very unlikely that that is what had happened to Lewis and if he had done that he would not be alive and definitely would not be walking around and talking like stated in Mrs. Grinder’s testimony. He would have died instantly the moment the gun had fired. The more likely situation was that Lewis had very excruciating stomach pains cause by malaria and he shot himself in the abdomen. Then he got John Pernier, his servant, to shoot him in the head to kill Lewis and to end the suffering he was feeling. This is the most likely situation, much more likely then Lewis shooting himself with two
Many people in the Western United States contracted Malaria around the time of Lewis and Clark’s expedition. Malaria was spread by mosquito and very easily contracted. If Lewis had contracted Malaria, like said in Theories and Interpretations of Meriwether Lewis’ Death, he would have most likely gotten it during his expedition. Many people studying malaria have said that Lewis’ behavior was very similar to case studies of people who had contracted the disease. Malaria was also known to cause excruciating pain for the infected. The victim was known to harm themselves to try and “kill the pain”. If Lewis was infected, he then shot himself in the stomach to get …show more content…
Grinder’s testimony Lewis was shot in the back of the head and in the abdomen. The only way he could have successfully committed suicide was if he shot himself with two guns at the same time. This is very unlikely that that is what had happened to Lewis and if he had done that he would not be alive and definitely would not be walking around and talking like stated in Mrs. Grinder’s testimony. He would have died instantly the moment the gun had fired. The more likely situation was that Lewis had very excruciating stomach pains cause by malaria and he shot himself in the abdomen. Then he got John Pernier, his servant, to shoot him in the head to kill Lewis and to end the suffering he was feeling. This is the most likely situation, much more likely then Lewis shooting himself with two