George Mercer (military officer)
Encyclopedia
George Mercer was an American (then British colonial subject) surveyor, military officer, and politician from Virginia
.
Born at Marlborough Plantation, Virginia, to John Mercer
and Catherine Mason Mercer, he became a surveyor of Virginia, he then joined the provincial First Virginia Regiment in 1754, during the French and Indian War
, as a lieutenant. Serving with George Washington
as his aide-de-camp
. He was wounded at the battle to defend Fort Necessity, following which he rose to the rank of captain. His younger brother, Lt. John Fenton Mercer, was killed and scalped at Edwards's Fort, April 1756. He then became the commander of the newly formed Second Virginia Regiment, in 1758, and a lieutenant colonel.
In 1758 the two Virginia Regiments were assigned to regular British Army Brigadier General John Forbes
to march from Philadelphia westward and take Fort Duquesne
in the western Pennsylvania frontier. On November 12 while on patrol, from Fort Ligonier
, to repel French and Indian raids, the 2nd Virginia accidentally engaged Washington and the 1st Virginia in a heavy fog and at night. Two officers and 38 men were killed or wounded.
After the war Mercer became Assistant Deputy Quartermaster-General for Maryland and Virginia (1759). Then in 1761 became a Burgess
to the Virginia General Assembly. During this time he also became a land speculator in the Ohio River Valley and became the Ohio Company of Virginia's
agent sent to England. Washington, and George's father, John, were also members of the company.
He was appointed Stamp Collector for Maryland and Virginia in 1765, to help enforce the Stamp Act
, but resigned amidst violent protests, and then he was
appointed Governor of North Carolina, but never assumed that position.
George had two other brothers, Judge James Mercer
(1735–93) and John Francis Mercer
, Captain of the 3rd Virginia, Anti-Federalist at the Constitutional Convention, and Governor of Maryland, 1801-03. A maternal cousin to George Mason
. In 1767 he married Mary Neville at Scarborough, England, who died a year later.
He died in London
.
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
.
Born at Marlborough Plantation, Virginia, to John Mercer
John Mercer (colonial lawyer)
John Mercer was a colonial American lawyer, land speculator, and author.Born in Dublin, Ireland, he came to Virginia in 1720 where he built the colonial estate Marlborough...
and Catherine Mason Mercer, he became a surveyor of Virginia, he then joined the provincial First Virginia Regiment in 1754, during the French and Indian War
French and Indian War
The French and Indian War is the common American name for the war between Great Britain and France in North America from 1754 to 1763. In 1756, the war erupted into the world-wide conflict known as the Seven Years' War and thus came to be regarded as the North American theater of that war...
, as a lieutenant. Serving with George Washington
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...
as his aide-de-camp
Aide-de-camp
An aide-de-camp is a personal assistant, secretary, or adjutant to a person of high rank, usually a senior military officer or a head of state...
. He was wounded at the battle to defend Fort Necessity, following which he rose to the rank of captain. His younger brother, Lt. John Fenton Mercer, was killed and scalped at Edwards's Fort, April 1756. He then became the commander of the newly formed Second Virginia Regiment, in 1758, and a lieutenant colonel.
In 1758 the two Virginia Regiments were assigned to regular British Army Brigadier General John Forbes
John Forbes (General)
John Forbes was a British general in the French and Indian War. He is best known for leading the Forbes Expedition that captured the French outpost at Fort Duquesne and for naming the city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania after British Secretary of State William Pitt the Elder.-Early life:Forbes was...
to march from Philadelphia westward and take Fort Duquesne
Fort Duquesne
Fort Duquesne was a fort established by the French in 1754, at the junction of the Allegheny and Monongahela rivers in what is now downtown Pittsburgh in the state of Pennsylvania....
in the western Pennsylvania frontier. On November 12 while on patrol, from Fort Ligonier
Fort Ligonier
Fort Ligonier is a British fortification from the French and Indian War located in Ligonier, Pennsylvania, United States. The fort served as a staging area for the Forbes Expedition of 1758. During the eight years of its existence as a garrison, Fort Ligonier was never taken by an enemy...
, to repel French and Indian raids, the 2nd Virginia accidentally engaged Washington and the 1st Virginia in a heavy fog and at night. Two officers and 38 men were killed or wounded.
After the war Mercer became Assistant Deputy Quartermaster-General for Maryland and Virginia (1759). Then in 1761 became a Burgess
House of Burgesses
The House of Burgesses was the first assembly of elected representatives of English colonists in North America. The House was established by the Virginia Company, who created the body as part of an effort to encourage English craftsmen to settle in North America...
to the Virginia General Assembly. During this time he also became a land speculator in the Ohio River Valley and became the Ohio Company of Virginia's
Ohio Company
The Ohio Company, formally known as the Ohio Company of Virginia, was a land speculation company organized for the settlement by Virginians of the Ohio Country and to trade with the Indians there...
agent sent to England. Washington, and George's father, John, were also members of the company.
He was appointed Stamp Collector for Maryland and Virginia in 1765, to help enforce the Stamp Act
Stamp Act 1765
The Stamp Act 1765 was a direct tax imposed by the British Parliament specifically on the colonies of British America. The act required that many printed materials in the colonies be produced on stamped paper produced in London, carrying an embossed revenue stamp...
, but resigned amidst violent protests, and then he was
appointed Governor of North Carolina, but never assumed that position.
George had two other brothers, Judge James Mercer
James Mercer (jurist)
James Mercer , also known as William James Mercer, was born in Virginia at Malborough plantation on February 26, 1736. He was the son of John Mercer and Catherine Mason Mercer...
(1735–93) and John Francis Mercer
John Francis Mercer
John Francis Mercer was an American lawyer, planter, and politician from Virginia and Maryland. Born in 1759 in Marlborough, Stafford County, Virginia, to John Mercer and Ann Roy Mercer, he graduated from the College of William and Mary in 1775 and was a delegate for Virginia to the Continental...
, Captain of the 3rd Virginia, Anti-Federalist at the Constitutional Convention, and Governor of Maryland, 1801-03. A maternal cousin to George Mason
George Mason
George Mason IV was an American Patriot, statesman and a delegate from Virginia to the U.S. Constitutional Convention...
. In 1767 he married Mary Neville at Scarborough, England, who died a year later.
He died in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.