A fronteirsman, hunter, and likely the first African American to cross the continent, York was an American explorer who made important contributions to the Lewis and Clark Expedition. He was enslaved by Captain William Clark and after the expedition's return was denied his payment and his freedom.
Locations:Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail, Lewis and Clark National Historical Park
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 plantation.
