Military officer; born presumably in
Philadelphia, Aug. 8, 1746.
Removing to
Delaware in 1774, he left an estate in
Philadelphia worth $15,000, the whole of which he sacrificed in the service of his country.
He entered warmly into the contest for freedom, becoming first a lieutenant in
Caesar Rodney's regiment; joined the army under
Washington in 1776, and distinguished himself at the battles of
Long Island,
White Plains,
Trenton, and
Princeton; was made a captain in 1777; commanded the outposts of the
Continental army around
Philadelphia while that city was occupied by the
British (1777-78); and was made major of the infantry of
Lee's “Legion.”
While in service under
Gen. Henry Lee (q. v.), he discovered and reported the weakness of the garrison at
Stony Point, and promoted its capture on July 16, 1779.
He also revealed the weakness of the garrison at
Paulus's Hook, and participated in the brilliant affair there, Aug. 19, 1779.
His personal courage and strength were remarkable.
In an encounter, near
Frankford, Pa., with three British dragoons, he killed one, wounded another, and caused the third to flee for his life.
After the war he held prominent civil postsnamely, member of the Assembly of Delaware, and its speaker; six years a privy councillor; a judge of the court of common pleas; marshal of the district from 1790 to 1798; and collector of the port of
Wilmington from 1808 until his death, in that city, May 22, 1829.
