CLARK, GEORGE ROGERS American frontier military leader, was born in Albemarle county, Virginia, on Nov. When 19 years of age he left his home to be come a surveyor of frontier lands along the Ohio river. This occupation was soon interrupted by an Indian outbreak known as Lord Dunmore's War (1774) ; and Clark, with the rank of cap tain, accompanied Dunmore in the punitive expedition. Peace brought renewed immigration, especially into Kentucky, and thither Clark followed as a surveyor for the Ohio company. His position enabled him from time to time to absorb choice portions of land for himself, and these interests soon led him to identify himself with the Kentuckians and devote much thought to their peculiar problems. When the American Revolution broke out Clark clearly perceived the vulnerability of the frontier, and the necessity of securing for Kentucky a government with military authority and an organized militia if there was to be concerted defence against the British, or their allies, the Indians. Elected by a mass meeting of the pioneers to present their problems before the Virginia Government, Clark attended the council and assem bly at Williamsburg and diplomatically persuaded them to create a separate county of Kentucky and thereby become responsible for its defence. Clark returned with a supply of powder and assumed chief command of the frontier militia at a critical mo ment, for the Indians were already making raids against the set tlers. Convinced that they were instigated and supported in their raids by British officers stationed in the forts north of the Ohio river, Clark worked out a plan of offensive operations that in volved nothing less than a conquest of these forts. His plans were approved by Governor Patrick Henry and the council of Vir ginia and Clark was authorized to enlist troops. May 1778 found him at the falls of the Ohio with about 175 men. The expedition proceeded to Ft. Kaskaskia, on the Mississippi river, in what is now Illinois. This place and Cahokia, also on the Mississippi, near St.Louis,were defended by small British garrisons, which depended on the support of the French inhabitants. The French being willing to accept the authority of Virginia, both forts were easily taken. Clark gained the friendship of Father Gibault, the priest at Kaskaskia, and through his influence the French at Vincennes on the Wabash were induced to change their allegiance. Lieut.-gov ernor Hamilton, the British commander at Detroit, recovered Vincennes, however, and went into winter quarters there. After an ardous march across flooded bottom land in freezing weather, Clark in Feb. 1779, surprised Hamilton and forced him to give up Vincennes, and surrender himself and his garrison as prisoners of war. The way was now open to Detroit, Clark's ultimate ob ject, but it was deemed prudent to wait for reinforcements promised from Virginia in June. The delay was fatal ; other occur rences delayed the reinforcements and scattered Clark's troops. Clark withdrew to Ft. Nelson which he had built at the falls of the Ohio, and made that his base for the rest of the war. In 178o he aided in the defeat of a British expedition against the Spanish settlement of St. Louis; the same year he made a swift campaign against the Shawnee Indians and destroyed their towns, Chil licothe and Piqua. Clark, now appointed brigadier-general of the western forces, again planned to move against Detroit and was promised supplies and reinforcements for the expedition from Virginia. Months went by and they did not come, for Virginia was bankrupt. Again in 1782 Clark took the offensive against the Shawnees, and while not entirely successful this last expedition saved the settlements from renewed Indian attacks and defeated British plans for an Indian alliance. When peace came in 1783 (Treaty of Paris) Clark's conquests doubtless influenced the award of the country northwest of the Ohio to the United States. His offensive movements had also been of first importance in defending the vulnerable frontier from Indian raids and British expeditions. Clark and his men during all these years received no pay for their services and hardships. Furthermore Clark found himself responsible for all debts incurred for supplies, since Virginia, despite her promises, never reimbursed him. The rest of his life was shadowed by the constant demands of creditors. Clark was appointed an Indian commissioner after the war, and in 1786 he played a leading part in a treaty with the Shawnees.
The same year he led an expedition against the "Wabash confed eracy," his last military command. James Wilkenson, a traitor in the pay of Spain (unknown at that time), coveted Clark's office of Indian commissioner and his military command, and deliberately set out to misrepresent him. Forged papers and testimonials were forwarded to Governor Randolph of Kentucky charging Clark with constant drunkenness, military incapacity, and a treasonable design of leading a military expedition down the Mississippi against Spain. Wilkenson was entirely successful; he was appointed Indian commissioner in Clark's place, and the latter was relieved of his command. Disappointed at his country's ingratitude, Clark spent the rest of his life near Louisville in retirement, dying on Feb. 13, 1818. Historical research in recent years has exposed Wilkenson's perfidy, and emphasized the im portance of Clark's exploits. His most ardent supporters have even called him "the Washington of the West." BIBLIOGRAPHY.-The George Rogers Clark Papers, 1771-1783, ed. Bibliography.-The George Rogers Clark Papers, 1771-1783, ed. J. A. James, are contained in vol. viii. and ix. of the Illinois Historical Collections (Springfield, 1912 and 1926) . Clark's own narrative of his campaigns is published in The Captive of Old Vincennes (Indian apolis, 1927), ed. M. M. Quaife. The best biography is Temple Bodley's George Rogers Clark: His Life and Public Services (Boston, 1926) . See also W. H. English, Conquest of the Country North-west of the River Ohio, 1778-1783 (1896), and the Mississippi Valley His torical Review for Sept. 1924; Frederick Palmer, Clark of the Ohio: A Life of George Rogers Clark (1929).