Tennessee

Meriwether Lewis

(1774-1809)

Explorer, Scientist, Politician

Fame-O-Meter-9/10

Resting Place-Pioneer Cemetery, Hohenwald

GPS Coordinates-

35°30'40.3"N, 87°27'37.9"W

Few men have ever been as famous in their time as Meriwether Lewis was in his. Half of the titular Lewis and Clark and the leader of the Corps of Discovery, Lewis was tasked by President Thomas Jefferson to explore the newly purchased Louisiana Territory and find a passage to the Pacific Ocean. Along the way Lewis, along with William Clark, filled in his journal, being the first white men to see much of the truly Wild West. Plant species, insects, animals, and dozens of Native American tribes were all recorded by Lewis in his journal. Though things were extremely difficult on the Corps of Discovery at times, they managed to only lose one person on the three year trip--and that was due to a burst appendix. After his fame, Lewis found it hard to settle down into regular, everyday life. 

President James Polk

(1795-1849)

Politician

Fame-O-Meter-7/10

Resting Place-Tennessee State Capitol Building and Grounds, Nashville

GPS Coordinates-

36°09'58.4"N, 86°47'01.5"W

President James K Polk was the 11th President of the United States, serving from 1845-1849. Polk oversaw many milestones in the United States such as adding new states along the Pacific Ocean, starting the U.S. Naval Academy, authorizing the first postage stamp, and standardizing the November election day across America to the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. He is generally considered a mid-to-upper ranked president for his time in office.