Pioneer; born in
Rockingham county, Va., Sept. 23, 1745; went to the
Holston River, east Tennessee, with an exploring party, in 1769, and built Fort Watauga; was in the
battle of Point Pleasant; settled in
North Carolina; was a member of its legislature in 1777; fought the Indians on the frontiers; and was one of the leaders (as colonel) in the battle at
King's Mountain (q. v. ). For his services there he was rewarded by
North Carolina with public thanks and a sword.
He was afterwards attached to
Marion's command, and was a brigadiergeneral at the close of the war.
Sevier was active among the secessionists of
western North Carolina, who formed the independent State of
Frankland (q. v. ), over which he was elected governor in 1784.
When
Tennessee was organized, in 1788, he was governor until 1801.
He was again governor from 1803 to 1809, and in 1811 he was a member of Congress.
In 1815 he accepted a mission to the
Creek Indians, and died while in performance of it near Fort Decatur, Ga., Sept. 24, 1815.
See State of Tennessee.