Reprint of the original edition (Wellsburg, Va.: Jacob & Smith, 1859). Cloth. Octavo. 280 p. p., illus., 18 cm. Patrick Gass is the most famous member of the Corps of Discovery, except of course for Lewis and Clark themselves. Jacob"s biography of Gass, originally published in 1859, is notable for several reasons. Firstly, it is the first biography of any member of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Secondly, it is one of the few 19th century publications on Lewis and Clark that hasnot been reprinted previously. Thirdly, the original edition is a scarce and collectible book in its own right. Of Irish ancestry, Sergeant Patrick Gass was born in Pennsylvania, June 12, 1771. He joined the army in 1789, and by 1803 was serving under Captain Russell Bissell"s command at Kaskaskia, Illinois Territory. The Secretary of War instructed Captain Bissell to furnish Lewis and Clark "with one Sergeant & Eight good men." Gass was determined to join the exploring mission, but Bissell denied his transfer, wishing to retain Gass for his craftsmanship skills. Lewis interceded, and enlisted Gass on January 3, 1804, after Gass had made a personal appeal to him. Gass was not among the original three sergeants appointed at Camp Dubois. He was elected to fill the rank of sergeant by the vote of the men upon the death of Sergeant Charles Floyd on August 20, 1804. As his most lasting literary legacy, Gass holds claim to popularizing the explorers" proudly coined "Corps of Discovery" name, featured boldly on the title page of his 1807 published journal. Patrick Gass died April 2, 1870, at age 99 in Wellsburg, West Virginia. This edition is smythe sewn. The original book, printed on a primitive press, is plagued by broken type and weak letter pressing. The entire text has been reformatted in the interests of aesthetics and legibility.