Francis Nash
Encyclopedia
Francis Nash was a brigadier general
killed in the American Revolutionary War
.
Nash was born in Prince Edward County, Virginia
. At an early age he became prominent as a North Carolina
merchant, attorney, and justice of the peace
; experiences which eventually led to a seat in the North Carolina House of Commons. His brother was Abner Nash
.
During the War of the Regulation
(c. 1764-1771), Nash was a lawyer working in Hillsborough, North Carolina
, and was, along with Edmund Fanning
, charged and found guilty of extorting money from the local residents. He served as a captain in the Orange County militia, and participated in the Battle of Alamance
, fighting against the Regulators
.
In 1775, the Provincial Congress elected Nash lieutenant colonel
of the First North Carolina Regiment
, Continental Army
. After taking part in the expedition to aid Charleston
in 1776 and 1777, Nash (now in command of the North Carolina Brigade) marched north to join General George Washington's
Army and commanded the 1st North Carolina Regiment at the Battle of Brandywine
. He was mortally wounded while leading his brigade in the Battle of Germantown
on October 4, 1777 and died on October 7. He was buried in the Towamencin Mennonite Meetinghouse Cemetery in Towamencin Township, Pennsylvania
on October 9, 1777.
Nash was regarded by Washington as a brave and valuable soldier. The governor of North Carolina described him as "the ablest North Carolina officer in the field" and at his death was described as "one of the most enlightened, liberal, and magnanimous gentlemen that ever sacrificed his life for his country."
Brigadier General
Brigadier general is a senior rank in the armed forces. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries, usually sitting between the ranks of colonel and major general. When appointed to a field command, a brigadier general is typically in command of a brigade consisting of around 4,000...
killed in the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
.
Nash was born in Prince Edward County, Virginia
Prince Edward County, Virginia
Prince Edward County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2010, the population was 23,368. Its county seat is Farmville.-Formation and County Seats:...
. At an early age he became prominent as a North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
merchant, attorney, and justice of the peace
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
; experiences which eventually led to a seat in the North Carolina House of Commons. His brother was Abner Nash
Abner Nash
Abner Nash was the second Governor of the U.S. state of North Carolina between 1781 and 1782, and represented North Carolina in the Continental Congress from 1782 to 1786....
.
During the War of the Regulation
War of the Regulation
The War of the Regulation was a North Carolina uprising, lasting from approximately 1760 to 1771, in which citizens took up arms against corrupt colonial officials...
(c. 1764-1771), Nash was a lawyer working in Hillsborough, North Carolina
Hillsborough, North Carolina
Hillsborough is a town in Orange County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 5,653 at the 2008 census. It is the county seat of Orange County....
, and was, along with Edmund Fanning
Edmund Fanning (colonial administrator)
Edmund Fanning first gained fame for his role in the War of the Regulation, but later had a distinguished career as a colonial governor and British general.right| Sketch of Edmund Fanning...
, charged and found guilty of extorting money from the local residents. He served as a captain in the Orange County militia, and participated in the Battle of Alamance
Battle of Alamance
The Battle of Alamance was the final battle of the War of the Regulation, a rebellion in colonial North Carolina over issues of taxation and local control. In the past, historians considered the battle to be the opening salvo of the American Revolution and locals agreed with this assessment...
, fighting against the Regulators
War of the Regulation
The War of the Regulation was a North Carolina uprising, lasting from approximately 1760 to 1771, in which citizens took up arms against corrupt colonial officials...
.
In 1775, the Provincial Congress elected Nash lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Air Force, and United States Marine Corps, a lieutenant colonel is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of major and just below the rank of colonel. It is equivalent to the naval rank of commander in the other uniformed services.The pay...
of the First North Carolina Regiment
1st North Carolina Regiment
The 1st North Carolina Regiment was raised on September 1, 1775, at Wilmington, North Carolina, for service with the Continental Army. The regiment saw action at the Battle of Brandywine, Battle of Germantown, Battle of Monmouth and the Siege of Charleston. The regiment was captured by the British...
, Continental Army
Continental Army
The Continental Army was formed after the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War by the colonies that became the United States of America. Established by a resolution of the Continental Congress on June 14, 1775, it was created to coordinate the military efforts of the Thirteen Colonies in...
. After taking part in the expedition to aid Charleston
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
in 1776 and 1777, Nash (now in command of the North Carolina Brigade) marched north to join General George Washington's
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
Army and commanded the 1st North Carolina Regiment at the Battle of Brandywine
Battle of Brandywine
The Battle of Brandywine, also known as the Battle of the Brandywine or the Battle of Brandywine Creek, was fought between the American army of Major General George Washington and the British-Hessian army of General Sir William Howe on September 11, 1777. The British defeated the Americans and...
. He was mortally wounded while leading his brigade in the Battle of Germantown
Battle of Germantown
The Battle of Germantown, a battle in the Philadelphia campaign of the American Revolutionary War, was fought on October 4, 1777, at Germantown, Pennsylvania between the British army led by Sir William Howe and the American army under George Washington...
on October 4, 1777 and died on October 7. He was buried in the Towamencin Mennonite Meetinghouse Cemetery in Towamencin Township, Pennsylvania
Towamencin Township, Pennsylvania
Towamencin Township is a township in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 17,578 at the 2010 census. It is part of the North Penn School District. Towamencin has residential neighborhoods, historic farmhouses, recreational facilities, many schools, and open spaces. ...
on October 9, 1777.
Nash was regarded by Washington as a brave and valuable soldier. The governor of North Carolina described him as "the ablest North Carolina officer in the field" and at his death was described as "one of the most enlightened, liberal, and magnanimous gentlemen that ever sacrificed his life for his country."