Nicholas Fish
Encyclopedia
Nicholas Fish was an American
Revolutionary
soldier, born in New York City
.
He attended Princeton
but left before graduating to pursue the study of law at King's College (now Columbia University
) through the office of John Morin Scott
in New York. There he became actively interested in the organization of the Sons of Liberty
.
on his staff
. Scott had been commissioned brigadier general. On August 21, 1776 he was appointed major of the 2nd New York Regiment
. He served as a division inspector under Steuben
in 1778, participated in the battles of Saratoga
and Monmouth
, in Sullivan
's expedition against the Native Americans
in 1779, and in the Virginia and Yorktown campaigns, in which he served for a time on the staff of Lafayette
.
, which position he held for many years. In 1794 he was appointed by Washington
supervisor
of the Federal revenue in New York City. On two occasions Fish ran unsuccessfully for United States Congress
, losing to Samuel L. Mitchill in 1804 and Gurdon S. Mumford
in 1806. Fish also twice ran unsuccessfully for Lieutenant Governor
of New York
. In 1810, he was the Federalist
candidate, but lost to incumbent John Broome
. Broome subsequently died one month into his term in August 1810. Fish ran in a special election for Lieutenant Governor in 1811 to fill the vacancy created by Broome's death, but lost to the then-mayor of New York City, DeWitt Clinton
. During the War of 1812
, Fish served as a member of the City Committee of Defense.
Fish died in 1833, and was buried in the churchyard of St. Mark's Church in-the-Bowery in New York City
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Revolutionary
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...
soldier, born in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
He attended Princeton
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
but left before graduating to pursue the study of law at King's College (now Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
) through the office of John Morin Scott
John Morin Scott
John Morin Scott was a lawyer, military officer, and statesman before, during and after the American Revolution.-Ancestry:...
in New York. There he became actively interested in the organization of the Sons of Liberty
Sons of Liberty
The Sons of Liberty were a political group made up of American patriots that originated in the pre-independence North American British colonies. The group was formed to protect the rights of the colonists from the usurpations by the British government after 1766...
.
American Revolutionary War
In 1776 he was appointed by Scott aide-de-campAide-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...
on his staff
Staff of office
A staff of office is a staff, the carrying of which often denotes an official's position, a social rank or a degree of social prestige.Apart from the ecclesiastical and ceremonial usages mentioned below, there are less formal usages. A gold- or silver-topped cane can express social standing...
. Scott had been commissioned brigadier general. On August 21, 1776 he was appointed major of the 2nd New York Regiment
2nd New York Regiment
The 2nd New York Regiment was authorized on May 25, 1775, and formed at Albany from June 28 to August 4 for service with the Continental Army under the command of Colonel Goose Van Schaick...
. He served as a division inspector under Steuben
Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben
Friedrich Wilhelm August Heinrich Ferdinand von Steuben , also referred to as the Baron von Steuben, was a Prussian-born military officer who served as inspector general and Major General of the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War...
in 1778, participated in the battles of Saratoga
Battle of Saratoga
The Battles of Saratoga conclusively decided the fate of British General John Burgoyne's army in the American War of Independence and are generally regarded as a turning point in the war. The battles were fought eighteen days apart on the same ground, south of Saratoga, New York...
and Monmouth
Battle of Monmouth
The Battle of Monmouth was an American Revolutionary War battle fought on June 28, 1778 in Monmouth County, New Jersey. The Continental Army under General George Washington attacked the rear of the British Army column commanded by Lieutenant General Sir Henry Clinton as they left Monmouth Court...
, in Sullivan
John Sullivan
John Sullivan was the third son of Irish immigrants, a United States general in the Revolutionary War, a delegate in the Continental Congress and a United States federal judge....
's expedition against the Native Americans
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
in 1779, and in the Virginia and Yorktown campaigns, in which he served for a time on the staff of Lafayette
Gilbert du Motier, marquis de La Fayette
Marie-Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de La Fayette , often known as simply Lafayette, was a French aristocrat and military officer born in Chavaniac, in the province of Auvergne in south central France...
.
After War Years
In 1786 he was appointed adjutant general of New York StateNew York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, which position he held for many years. In 1794 he was appointed by 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...
supervisor
Supervisor
A supervisor, foreperson, team leader, overseer, cell coach, facilitator, or area coordinator is a manager in a position of trust in business...
of the Federal revenue in New York City. On two occasions Fish ran unsuccessfully for United States Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
, losing to Samuel L. Mitchill in 1804 and Gurdon S. Mumford
Gurdon S. Mumford
Gurdon Saltonstall Mumford was a United States Representative from New York.Born in New London, Connecticut, he attended the common schools and was a private secretary to Benjamin Franklin during the latter part of his official residence in Paris. He returned with Franklin to America in 1785 and...
in 1806. Fish also twice ran unsuccessfully for Lieutenant Governor
Lieutenant governor
A lieutenant governor or lieutenant-governor is a high officer of state, whose precise role and rank vary by jurisdiction, but is often the deputy or lieutenant to or ranking under a governor — a "second-in-command"...
of New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. In 1810, he was the Federalist
Federalist Party (United States)
The Federalist Party was the first American political party, from the early 1790s to 1816, the era of the First Party System, with remnants lasting into the 1820s. The Federalists controlled the federal government until 1801...
candidate, but lost to incumbent John Broome
John Broome
John Broome may refer to:*John Broome , British philosopher and economist at the University of Oxford*John Broome , New York politician...
. Broome subsequently died one month into his term in August 1810. Fish ran in a special election for Lieutenant Governor in 1811 to fill the vacancy created by Broome's death, but lost to the then-mayor of New York City, DeWitt Clinton
DeWitt Clinton
DeWitt Clinton was an early American politician and naturalist who served as United States Senator and the sixth Governor of New York. In this last capacity he was largely responsible for the construction of the Erie Canal...
. During the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
, Fish served as a member of the City Committee of Defense.
- With Alexander HamiltonAlexander HamiltonAlexander Hamilton was a Founding Father, soldier, economist, political philosopher, one of America's first constitutional lawyers and the first United States Secretary of the Treasury...
he served in New York Militia Hearts of OakHearts of Oak (New York militia)The Hearts of Oak were a volunteer militia in the British colonial Province of New York as part of the Thirteen Colonies. Formed c. 1775 in New York City, among its members were students at King's College such as Nicholas Fish, Robert Troup, and perhaps most famously, Alexander Hamilton...
(1st Battalion/5th Field Artillery Regiment). - Father of New York Governor/Senator Hamilton FishHamilton FishHamilton Fish was an American statesman and politician who served as the 16th Governor of New York, United States Senator and United States Secretary of State. Fish has been considered one of the best Secretary of States in the United States history; known for his judiciousness and reform efforts...
. - Nicholas Fish's portrait can be seen at far right bottom row of John TrumbullJohn TrumbullJohn Trumbull was an American artist during the period of the American Revolutionary War and was notable for his historical paintings...
's The Surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown painting.
Fish died in 1833, and was buried in the churchyard of St. Mark's Church in-the-Bowery in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.