Meriwether Lewis, born August 18, 1774, in Virginia, served in the US Infantry during General Anthony Wayne's Northwest Territory campaigns and, in 1801, became President Thomas Jefferson's private secretary. A serious man, Lewis was known to be subject to periods of melancholy. After the expedition to explore the land acquired in the Louisiana Purchase, he was appointed governor of Upper Louisiana. He died on October 11, 1809, apparently by his own hand.

William Clark, born August 1, 1770, in Virginia, was the brother of George Rogers Clark, a hero of the American Revolution. He served in the US Army as an artillery officer. With Meriwether Lewis, Clark led the famous Lewis and Clark Expedition from 1804 to 1806 across the land acquired in the Louisiana Purchase. Clark was a popular leader; he was also popular among the Indians and served as Indian Agent in the Louisiana Territory. He died September 1, 1838.

Anthony Brandt attended Princeton and Columbia before becoming a freelance writer for Esquire, American Heritage, The Atlantic, Psychology Today, GQ, Men's Journal, National Geographic Adventure, and many other magazines. He was the essays editor of the Pushcart Prize for 18 years and has served as a nonfiction judge for the National Book Awards. Brandt is the editor of the Adventure Classics series for National Geographic Books, including the first edition of The Journals of Lewis and Clark.