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Robert Forsyth (U.S. Marshal)
Encyclopedia
Robert Forsyth was an American patriot who served as a Captain in Lee's Legion
under Henry "Light Horse Harry" Lee. He was selected by President George Washington to be the first United States Marshal for the state of Georgia
and became the first U.S. Marshal and third law enforcement officer killed in the line of duty.
in 1754. As a teenager, he moved to America
with his family, where they first settled in New England
before moving to Fredericksburg
, Virginia in 1774. At the age of 22, Forsyth enlisted in the Continental Army
after the start of the American Revolutionary War
. Three years later, on 10 January 1779, he received a commission as Captain in the Corps of Partisan Light Dragoons under Major Henry "Light Horse Harry" Lee.
Within the year, Forsyth resigned from Lee's Legion to accept another post. His transfer prompted a letter from General
Washington
expressing regret that he was leaving Lee's command, but relief that Forsyth would be "in another line of the Army." Working as aide-de-camp
to General Avery, Forsyth's new responsibility was to provision the Southern Army. For this work, which he performed quite well despite almost insurmountable hardships, Forsyth earned a promotion to Major of the First Virginia Legion on 21 March 1781.
After the war, Forsyth returned to Fredericksburg, but moved to Augusta, Georgia
in 1785. He soon established himself in the new community, becoming a member of the Board of Commissions, where he worked successfully to acquire a new jail for the county. He also worked as a tax assessor, justice of the peace
, and trustee of the Richmond Academy. By 1792, he also owned 6,000 acres (24 km²) (2400 hectares) of land. In addition, Forsyth was a member of the Society of the Cincinnati and the Freemasons. He became Master of the Lodge Columbia and Deputy Grand Master for the state of Georgia. Washington appointed him Marshal on 26 September 1789; Forsyth was 35 years old.
Forsyth was the first of over 200 U.S. Marshals and Deputies killed in the line of duty. 40 years old at the time of his murder, he left behind a widow and two sons. One of the sons, John
, became governor of Georgia and, later, United States Minister
to Spain. While at the latter post, he negotiated the treaty ceding Florida
to the United States. John Forsyth also served as Secretary of State
under Presidents Andrew Jackson
and Martin Van Buren
. His grandson, John, Jr., was a newspaper editor.
Lee's Legion
Lee's Legion was a military unit within the Continental Army during the American Revolution. It primarily served in the Southern Theater of Operations, and gained a reputation for efficiency and bravery on the battlefield.The original unit was raised June 8, 1776, at Williamsburg, Virginia, under...
under Henry "Light Horse Harry" Lee. He was selected by President George Washington to be the first United States Marshal for the state of Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
and became the first U.S. Marshal and third law enforcement officer killed in the line of duty.
Biography
Robert Forsyth was born in ScotlandScotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
in 1754. As a teenager, he moved to America
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
with his family, where they first settled in New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
before moving to Fredericksburg
Fredericksburg, Virginia
Fredericksburg is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia located south of Washington, D.C., and north of Richmond. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 24,286...
, Virginia in 1774. At the age of 22, Forsyth enlisted in the 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 the start of 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...
. Three years later, on 10 January 1779, he received a commission as Captain in the Corps of Partisan Light Dragoons under Major Henry "Light Horse Harry" Lee.
Within the year, Forsyth resigned from Lee's Legion to accept another post. His transfer prompted a letter from General
General
A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
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...
expressing regret that he was leaving Lee's command, but relief that Forsyth would be "in another line of the Army." Working as 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...
to General Avery, Forsyth's new responsibility was to provision the Southern Army. For this work, which he performed quite well despite almost insurmountable hardships, Forsyth earned a promotion to Major of the First Virginia Legion on 21 March 1781.
After the war, Forsyth returned to Fredericksburg, but moved to Augusta, Georgia
Augusta, Georgia
Augusta is a consolidated city in the U.S. state of Georgia, located along the Savannah River. As of the 2010 census, the Augusta–Richmond County population was 195,844 not counting the unconsolidated cities of Hephzibah and Blythe.Augusta is the principal city of the Augusta-Richmond County...
in 1785. He soon established himself in the new community, becoming a member of the Board of Commissions, where he worked successfully to acquire a new jail for the county. He also worked as a tax assessor, 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...
, and trustee of the Richmond Academy. By 1792, he also owned 6,000 acres (24 km²) (2400 hectares) of land. In addition, Forsyth was a member of the Society of the Cincinnati and the Freemasons. He became Master of the Lodge Columbia and Deputy Grand Master for the state of Georgia. Washington appointed him Marshal on 26 September 1789; Forsyth was 35 years old.
Death
On 11 January 1794, Marshal Forsyth, accompanied by two of his deputies, went to the house of a Mrs. Dixon to serve a civil court process on two brothers, Beverly and William Allen. Beverly Allen, a former Methodist minister from South Carolina, saw the Marshal approaching, so he hid in a room on the second floor of the house. When Forsyth knocked on the door of the room, Allen fired his pistol at the direction of the knocking. The ball hit Forsyth in the head, killing him instantly. Forsyth's Deputies arrested the killer, Allen later managed to escape. He was never recaptured.Forsyth was the first of over 200 U.S. Marshals and Deputies killed in the line of duty. 40 years old at the time of his murder, he left behind a widow and two sons. One of the sons, John
John Forsyth (politician)
John Forsyth, Sr. was a 19th-century American politician from Georgia.Forsyth was born in Fredericksburg, Virginia. His father Robert Forsyth was the first U.S. Marshal to be killed in the line of duty in 1794. He was an attorney who graduated from the College of New Jersey in 1799...
, became governor of Georgia and, later, United States Minister
Resident (title)
A Resident, or in full Resident Minister, is a government official required to take up permanent residence in another country. A representative of his government, he officially has diplomatic functions which are often seen as a form of indirect rule....
to Spain. While at the latter post, he negotiated the treaty ceding Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
to the United States. John Forsyth also served as Secretary of State
United States Secretary of State
The United States Secretary of State is the head of the United States Department of State, concerned with foreign affairs. The Secretary is a member of the Cabinet and the highest-ranking cabinet secretary both in line of succession and order of precedence...
under Presidents Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson was the seventh President of the United States . Based in frontier Tennessee, Jackson was a politician and army general who defeated the Creek Indians at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend , and the British at the Battle of New Orleans...
and Martin Van Buren
Martin Van Buren
Martin Van Buren was the eighth President of the United States . Before his presidency, he was the eighth Vice President and the tenth Secretary of State, under Andrew Jackson ....
. His grandson, John, Jr., was a newspaper editor.