John Montgomery (pioneer)
Encyclopedia
Colonel John Montgomery was an early American soldier, settler, and explorer. He is credited with founding the city of Clarksville, Tennessee
, and the county of Montgomery County, Tennessee
is named for him.
He was born into a Scottish family which immigrated to Virginia
in the 17th century.
In 1771, Montgomery first entered the area of the Cumberland River
. Much was learned in the expedition, but Indians forced the explorers back to Virginia.
In 1775, Montgomery was one of the signers of the Fincastle Resolutions
, the earliest statement of armed resistance to the British Crown
in the American Colonies. During the American Revolutionary War
, Montgomery served under George Rogers Clark
during his Illinois campaign. Under Clark's orders, Montgomery led an expedition against several Indian tribes to prevent the British from gathering them to attack Kentucky. For the remainder of war, he ran supplies between New Orleans and Clark's army in the north.
Montgomery explored the area of the county that bears his name in 1775 while on a hunting expedition with Kasper Mansker. In 1784, Montgomery purchased the land at the confluence of the Cumberland and Red River
s from the North Carolina
for 100 British pounds and founded Clarksville. In 1789, he and surveyor Martin Armstrong
persuaded lawmakers to establish Clarksville as a tobacco
inspection point. Montgomery became the first sheriff of the district.
In the 1780s, he signed the Cumberland Compact
and in 1793, commanded territorial troops in the Nickajack Expedition
against Creek
Indians.
Montgomery was killed near Eddy Creek, Kentucky
on November 27, 1794, by an Indian ambush while hunting.
He is memorialized as a statue near Clarksville's Public Square.
Clarksville, Tennessee
Clarksville is a city in and the county seat of Montgomery County, Tennessee, United States, and the fifth largest city in the state. The population was 132,929 in 2010 United States Census...
, and the county of Montgomery County, Tennessee
Montgomery County, Tennessee
Montgomery County is a county located in the U.S. state of Tennessee. The county seat is Clarksville. The population was 172,331 at the 2010 census. It is one of the four counties included in the Clarksville, TN–KY Metropolitan Statistical Area....
is named for him.
He was born into a Scottish family which immigrated to Virginia
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...
in the 17th century.
In 1771, Montgomery first entered the area of the Cumberland River
Cumberland River
The Cumberland River is a waterway in the Southern United States. It is long. It starts in Harlan County in far southeastern Kentucky between Pine and Cumberland mountains, flows through southern Kentucky, crosses into northern Tennessee, and then curves back up into western Kentucky before...
. Much was learned in the expedition, but Indians forced the explorers back to Virginia.
In 1775, Montgomery was one of the signers of the Fincastle Resolutions
Fincastle Resolutions
The Fincastle Resolutions was a statement adopted on January 20, 1775 by thirteen elected representatives of Fincastle County, Colony of Virginia...
, the earliest statement of armed resistance to the British Crown
British monarchy
The monarchy of the United Kingdom is the constitutional monarchy of the United Kingdom and its overseas territories. The present monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, has reigned since 6 February 1952. She and her immediate family undertake various official, ceremonial and representational duties...
in the American Colonies. During 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...
, Montgomery served under George Rogers Clark
George Rogers Clark
George Rogers Clark was a soldier from Virginia and the highest ranking American military officer on the northwestern frontier during the American Revolutionary War. He served as leader of the Kentucky militia throughout much of the war...
during his Illinois campaign. Under Clark's orders, Montgomery led an expedition against several Indian tribes to prevent the British from gathering them to attack Kentucky. For the remainder of war, he ran supplies between New Orleans and Clark's army in the north.
Montgomery explored the area of the county that bears his name in 1775 while on a hunting expedition with Kasper Mansker. In 1784, Montgomery purchased the land at the confluence of the Cumberland and Red River
Red River (Tennessee-Kentucky)
The Red River, long, is a major stream of north-central Tennessee and south-central Kentucky and a major tributary of the Cumberland River....
s from the 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...
for 100 British pounds and founded Clarksville. In 1789, he and surveyor Martin Armstrong
Martin Armstrong (early American)
Martin Armstrong was an American soldier and surveyor, notable for devising the plan for Clarksville, Tennessee in 1784.He was a colonel in the American Revolutionary War from North Carolina. Following the war, he moved to the western region of North Carolina that later became Tennessee...
persuaded lawmakers to establish Clarksville as a tobacco
Tobacco
Tobacco is an agricultural product processed from the leaves of plants in the genus Nicotiana. It can be consumed, used as a pesticide and, in the form of nicotine tartrate, used in some medicines...
inspection point. Montgomery became the first sheriff of the district.
In the 1780s, he signed the Cumberland Compact
Cumberland Compact
The Cumberland Compact was a forerunner of the Tennessee State Constitution, signed on May 13, 1780, by settlers when they arrived on the Cumberland River and settled Fort Nashborough, which would become Nashville, Tennessee...
and in 1793, commanded territorial troops in the Nickajack Expedition
Nickajack Expedition
Following a peace treaty between Cherokee and white settlers in 1777, during the midst of the American Revolutionary War, followers of the Native American chief Dragging Canoe, all of whom opposed the peace, separated from the tribe and relocated to East Tennessee. They were joined by groups of...
against Creek
Creek people
The Muscogee , also known as the Creek or Creeks, are a Native American people traditionally from the southeastern United States. Mvskoke is their name in traditional spelling. The modern Muscogee live primarily in Oklahoma, Alabama, Georgia, and Florida...
Indians.
Montgomery was killed near Eddy Creek, Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
on November 27, 1794, by an Indian ambush while hunting.
He is memorialized as a statue near Clarksville's Public Square.