At last: Homage to 'Traveler' John Ledyard

Kimball, Carol W.

John Ledyard, The Traveler (American explorer)
Groton Memorial dedicated to John Ledyard
President Jefferson and Lewis and Clark
Captain Cook voyage
Bill Memorial Library, bronze plaque
Speaker James Zug and his John Ledyard Biography

Kim12-053

Scrapbook

8: Communication Artifact

Documentary Artifact

The Day

New London, CT

09/07/2009

Carol W. Kimball

John Ledyard, known as 'The Traveler' and the first great American explorer, was born in Groton in 1751 and became a world celebrity in his time. He was with Captain Cook on his fatal voyage and wrote a best-seller about his adventures. He was friends with Thomas Jefferson and John Paul Jones. The town of Groton was late in having its own memorial to John Ledyard but one will be located at the southeast corner of the Bill Memorial Library. Uncertain of the exact place he was born, his family owned a maritime warehouse near the Groton ferry and he lived somewhere on Groton Heights, where his uncle William Ledyard later died in battle. His enthusiasm for the possibilities of profitable fur trade probably influenced his friend Thomas Jefferson to organize the Lewis and Clark expedition to the Pacific. A tribute to the Traveler is planned for Monday, Sept. 14, 2009. James Zug, author of a 2005 biography "American Traveler: The Life and Adventures of John Ledyard", will speak.

Ledyard, John "The Traveler"
Cook, Captain
Jefferson, Thomas President
Jones, John Paul
Catherine, Empress
Engelke, Harold, Dr.
Wright, Elissa
Billing, Natalie Burfoot
Vincent, Lee
Ledyard, William
Lewis and Clark
Vincent, Lee
Watson, Harry, Groton Town Mayor
Popp, Dennis, City Mayor
Zug, James

John Ledyard, The Traveler (American explorer)
Groton Memorial dedicated to John Ledyard
President Jefferson and Lewis and Clark
Captain Cook voyage
Bill Memorial Library, bronze plaque
Speaker James Zug and his John Ledyard Biography