Inspiration found here.
Nearly every child learns of the Lewis & Clark Expedition. Both Meriwether Lewis and William Clark were born in Albemarle County, Virginia.
Richard E. Byrd –
(1888-1957) Winchester; aviator, explorer of North and South poles
William Clark –
(1770-1838) Albemarle County; explored Louisiana Purchase for President Thomas Jefferson
Meriwether Lewis –
(1774-1809) Albemarle County; explored Louisiana Purchase for President Thomas Jefferson
Matthew Fontaine Maury –
(1806-1873) Fredericksburg; mapped ocean currents, "Pathfinder of the Seas" Burial: Hollywood Cemetery - Monument in his honor located on Monument Avenue in Richmond
Cyrus H. McCormick –
(1809-1884) Rockbridge County; inventor of the grain reaper
Dr. Ephraim McDowell –
(1771-1830) Rockbridge County; "father of abdominal surgery"
William McGuffey –
(1800-1873) Claysville, PA (UVA professor) educator, author of "McGuffey Readers"
Walter Reed –
(1851-1902) Belroi; Army MD, discovered cause of yellow fever
John Rolfe –
(1585-1622) Norfolk, England; introduced tobacco to America in 1612
Edmund Ruffin –
(1794-1865) Prince George County; founded public education system in Virginia
James Rumsey –
(1743-1792) Cecil County, MD (lived in Bath County,VA) pioneer of steamboat development
Alexander Spotswood –
(1676-1740) Royal Governor, led early expeditions into western Virginia
Booker T. Washington –
(1856-1915) educator, founder of Tuskegee Institute
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