How Did Meriwether Lewis Committed Suicide

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I believe that Meriwether Lewis committed suicide. One quote said, “Instead of preventing the Governor from drinking or keeping him under any restraint advised him to [alcohol] and from everything I can learn gave the man every change to seek an opportunity to destroy himself.” (Gilbert Russell, Source F) Alcohol is a depressant so it brought whatever mood he was in a lot farther down. If Lewis was already depressed, he would have became so much worse after consuming alcohol. Another quote that points to suicide is, “I fear this report [of suicide] has too much truth, tho’ hope it may have no foundation” (William Clark, Source E) This shows that Clark believed it was suicide even though he doesn't want to. He knew that Lewis was already severely depressed. …show more content…
He replied, ‘If I had not done it somebody else would.” (Priscilla Grinder, Source D) Lewis was so afraid that someone else would have killed him if he hadn't done it himself. He was also scared of a war with England and having his valuable papers fall into British hand which would probably give them an advantage because they would know about the Louisiana Territory. Also before Lewis died he had a marriage proposal rejected which then caused him to start drinking heavily. He was drunk and could have been aiming for his heart but missed and went for his head. Later on he got malaria which causes mental confusion and lead to him attempting to kill himself. “Learning from the Crew that he had made two attempts to kill himself, in one of which he had nearly succeeded, resolved at once to take possession of him and his papers, and detain them there until he recovered.” (Gilbert Russell, Source
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