HistoricSiteMarkers
Early Republic

Richard Warfington

Louisburg, Franklin County, North Carolina

Marker Inscription

Richard Warfington. Member of Lewis and Clark Expedition, 1804-06. Led the return trip from Mandan villages. Born 1777 near here.

Erected by North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources

The Story

Born near here around 1777, Richard Warfington served as a corporal on the Lewis and Clark Expedition of 1804-1806. Entrusted by the captains, he led the crucial return party from the Mandan villages back toward St. Louis, safely delivering specimens, reports, and dispatches gathered in the expedition's first year. His steady leadership helped preserve the Corps of Discovery's early findings.

Why it matters

Warfington's role in Lewis and Clark's expedition ties this North Carolina community to the epic American exploration of the West.

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Related people

  • · Richard Warfington

Related events

  • · Lewis and Clark Expedition

Themes & tags

Westward ExpansionFrontier HistoryLandmark

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