Private Francois Labiche

Quick Facts

Significance:

Interpreter, Boatman, and Private on the Lewis and Clark Expedition

Place of Birth:

Unknown

Date of Birth:

Unknown

Place of Death:

Unknown

Date of Death:

1830s

Place of Burial:

Unknown

Cemetery Name:

Unknown

"He has rendered me very essential services as a French & English interpreter...Some small addition to his pay...should be added." - Lewis, January 15, 1807

With the knowledge that the expedition was going to be passing through the lands of many different nations, and with almost as many unique languages amongst them, it was no surprise that Lewis and Clark were always on the lookout for interpreters. 

He was an experienced trader, boatman, and helped bridge the language barrier present across portions of the beginning of the expedition.

Enlistment and Service on the Expedition

Having been recruited from Kaskaskia, Francois was to be a permanant member of the expedition due to his invaluable watercraft skills combined with his ability as an interpretor. However he was also one of the top hunters of the expedition, helping to provide plenty of meat for a hungry crew.

He, alongside George Shannon, managed to use their hunting skills to capture a living California Condor for Lewis to study on February 16th, 1806. Other specimens were likely also captured by the hunters efforts across the entire expedition.

During the expedition the Captains named a river Labiche in honor of his service, now known as Hood River. On the return trek near Yellowstone he would have another smaller creek named after him, now known as Sarpy Creek.

 

After the Expedition

For his service to the expedition Francois was awarded $144.66. However unlike those who left the service immediately to become a fur trader, Labiche stayed with and helped Lewis with interpretation in Washington during the visitations by Native American leaders.

It is possible that he was the same "Francois Labuche" in St. Louis that baptized seven children, as Clark had confirmed he was still living in St. Louis from 1825 to 1828.

Resources:

Morris, Larry E. The Fate of the Corps. Yale University Press, 2004. Print.

Moulton, Gary. The Journals of the Lewis & Clark Expedition: August 30, 1803 - August 2, 1804 . University of Nebraska Press, 1986. Print.

Moulton, Gary. Journals of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. University of Nebraska Press. Web.

Further Reading:

Learn more about Francois Labiche at Lewis-Clark.org.