november february surveyor soldier militia officer virginia highest ranking american military officer northwestern frontier american revolutionary war served leader kentucky virginia militia war clark best known celebrated captures greatly weakened british influence british ceded entire united_states treaty paris clark hailed old northwest clark military achievements came 30th birthday led militia opening engagements accused drunk duty despite demand formal investigation accusations forced resign left kentucky live indiana frontier fully virginia wartime expenditures clark spent final decades life creditors living increasing poverty obscurity involved failed open spanish controlled mississippi_river american traffic suffering stroke loss leg clark aided final years family members including younger brother william leaders lewis clark died stroke february early years born november virginia near home second children ann rogers clark english scots ancestry sons officers american revolutionary war youngest son young fight revolution later famous leader lewis outbreak french indian war worldwide seven years war family moved away frontier virginia lived acre km2 plantation later grew acres km2 little known clark schooling lived grandfather attend school caroline received common education home usual children period taught survey land grandfather age nineteen clark left home surveying trip western virginia year old surveyor clark trip kentucky pittsburgh thousands settlers entering area result treaty fort clark preparing lead expedition ninety men war broke american indians kentucky inhabited indians tribes area hunting tribes living ohio country party treaty signed ceded kentucky hunting grounds britain settlement attacked european american settlers try push area conflicts eventually culminated lord war clark served war captain virginia militia revolutionary war american revolutionary war began east settlers kentucky involved dispute region sovereignty judge land north_carolina purchased kentucky illegal treaty henderson intended create colony known kentucky settlers recognize authority june settlers selected clark deliver petition asking virginia formally extend boundaries include kentucky clark jones traveled wilderness road convinced governor create virginia clark given gunpowder help defend settlements appointed major militia clark years old older settlers looked leader illinois campaign american revolutionary war intensified kentucky armed encouraged british lieutenant governor fort detroit native americans waged war raided kentucky settlers hopes region hunting ground continental_army spare men invasion northwest defense distant kentucky defense left entirely local population clark participated skirmishes native american raiders leader defense kentucky clark believed best way end raids seize british outposts north destroying british influence indians clark asked governor virginia permission lead secret expedition capture nearest british posts located illinois country governor henry commissioned clark lieutenant colonel virginia militia authorized raise troops expedition july clark men crossed fort marched taking night july villages forts british territory subsequently captured firing shot french speaking american indian inhabitants unwilling arms behalf british counter clark advance small force february clark returned surprise winter expedition retook town capturing hamilton process winter expedition clark significant military achievement source reputation early american military hero news victory reached general george_washington clark success celebrated encourage alliance france washington recognized achievement gained support regular army men funds virginia capitalized clark success laying claim old northwest calling final years war clark ultimate goal revolutionary war seize british held detroit recruit men attempt kentucky generally preferred defend homes staying closer kentucky making long potentially expedition detroit june mixed force british indians including delaware detroit invaded kentucky cannons capturing fortified settlements carrying away hundreds prisoners august clark led force won victory village called near springfield ohio year clark promoted brigadier general governor given command militia kentucky illinois counties prepared lead expedition detroit washington transferred small group regulars assist clark detachment defeated august meet clark ending campaign august british indian force defeated kentucky militia battle blue clark present battle senior military officer severely criticized disaster response clark led expedition ohio country destroying indian towns great miami river major expedition war importance clark activities revolutionary war subject debate historians early called northwest british ceded entire old northwest territory united_states treaty paris historians including credit clark nearly doubling size original thirteen colonies seizing control illinois country war clark illinois campaign particularly surprise march greatly celebrated historians importance campaign peace negotiations outcome war arguing clark conquest little temporary occupation later years clark thirty years old revolutionary war ended greatest military achievements clark victories illinois settlers pouring kentucky illegally indian land north clark served superintendent surveyor virginia war veterans surveyed lands granted service war position brought small income clark devoted little time enterprise clark helped negotiate treaty fort treaty fort tribes north river violence native americans kentucky settlers continued according government report kentucky settlers killed indian raids end revolutionary war attempt end raids clark led expedition drafted men indian towns actions campaign ended victory lacking supplies clark withdraw concluding indians rumored notably clark drunk duty clark learned rumors demanded official inquiry request declined governor virginia condemned clark actions clark reputation led men battle left kentucky moving indiana frontier near life indiana clark lived rest life financial difficulties clark financed majority military campaigns borrowed funds creditors began come unpaid debts unable obtain virginia united_states congress record keeping frontier war services war virginia gave clark gift acres km2 land soldiers fought clark received smaller tracts land clark grant holdings ownership encompassed present day indiana surrounding counties clark claims tens thousands acres land resulting military service land speculation land poor meaning owned land lacked means money career seemingly prospects prosperity doubtful february clark offered services controversial ambassador revolutionary france hoping earn money maintain estate western americans outraged spanish controlled louisiana denied americans free access mississippi_river easy outlet long distance commerce seemingly deaf western concerns opening mississippi commerce clark proposed french financial support lead expedition drive spanish appointed commander chief mississippi_river clark began organize campaign seize new_orleans getting assistance old comrades winning support kentucky governor clark spent dollars money supplies early president washington issued proclamation forbidding americans violating neutrality threatened dispatch general stop expedition french government recalled revoked commissions granted americans war spain clark planned campaign gradually collapsed unable convince french expenses growing debt impossible clark continue holding land subject seizure land friends transferred family members held lost creditors years closed deprived veteran property remained clark largest left small plot land built small worked african american slaves clark lived decades continued struggle alcohol abuse problem plagued years bitter treatment neglect virginia blamed state chartered build canal falls ohio near clark named board directors surveying team assisted laying route canal company collapsed year construction begin fellow board members including vice president arrested treason large company million million dollars investments funds went determined return kentucky clark suffered severe stroke falling operating fireplace suffered burn leg severe limb impossible clark continue operate mill dependent member household brother law major farm miles growing town louisville granted clark pension dollars year finally recognized services revolution granting ceremonial sword second stroke clark died february buried grove cemetery days later funeral judge summed stature importance critical years frontier mighty oak forest fallen oaks clark body rest family members october cave hill cemetery louisville years clark death state virginia granted estate dollars partial payment debts owed government virginia continued find debt clark decades payment estate clark married kept account romantic relationships family held love sister lieutenant governor spanish louisiana writings niece cousin belief clark lifelong disappointment failed romance legacy president ordered memorial erected completed george rogers built style stands believed site fort george rogers clark national historical park includes statue clark february commemorate anniversary surrender fort issued cent postage stamp depicted surrender april paul chapter daughters american revolution indiana erected monument washington avenue virginia marker doesn identify connection general clark choice location currently mystery designated february indiana built george rogers second street bridge carries highway louisville kentucky statues clark found metropolis illinois sculptor placed daughters american revolution early 1900s louisville kentucky sculptor plaza wharf springfield ohio site battle virginia grounds illinois eastern bank mississippi_river indianapolis indiana sculptor places named clark include counties illinois indiana kentucky home ohio home virginia communities west_virginia indiana tennessee chicago illinois named ohio schools named clark include indianapolis indiana closed indiana closed hammond indiana george rogers winchester winchester kentucky virginia george rogers indiana george rogers clark elementary school chicago clark elementary school kentucky
George Rogers Clark