Nubian Geographic York The Explorer

York was the only African American on the Lewis and Clark Expedition and the first African American to have crossed North America to reach the Pacific. York was born enslaved, the son of Old York and Rose who were the slaves of John Clark III, William Clark’s father. Little is known about the life of York. He was an enslaved man owned by William Clark, and later became a member of the Corps of Discovery. York is often mentioned in the journals kept by both Lewis and Clark throughout the course of the Expedition. These journal entries indicate that he experienced freedoms that few enslaved people had, though these freedoms would be revoked upon his return to the Clark was much more – he worked side-by-side with the soldiers, interpreters, and French oarsmen who made up the Corps of Discovery. He hunted, he cared for the sick and afflicted, he entertained Native peoples, and he scouted. Through rain, snow, freezing cold, and blistering heat, York contributed day-in and day-ou