Josiah Harmar
Josiah Harmar (* 10. November 1753 in Philadelphia , Province of Pennsylvania ; † 20th August 1813 in Philadelphia) was an officer in the army of the United States during the Revolutionary War and the Indian Wars in the Northwest Territory .
Harmar was born in Philadelphia and raised in a Quaker school. He began his military career during the War of Independence and was promoted to captain in 1775. He served in the Continental Army under George Washington and Henry Lee . As a Colonel he was commissioned to deliver the ratified Treaty of Paris to Benjamin Franklin in Paris.
In 1784 Harmar became commander of the First American Regiment , the origin of the later US Army, and was commanding officer ( Senior Officer ) from 1784 to 1791 . He signed the Fort McIntosh Treaty in 1785 . Beaver in Pennsylvania is located on the site of the old Fort McIntosh . In the same year Harmar ordered the construction of Fort Harmar near Marietta in Ohio and also supervised the construction of Fort Steuben in what is now Steubenville in Ohio.
In 1787 Harmar was promoted to Brigade General. General Harmar ordered the construction of Fort Washington (today: Cincinnati , Ohio) in 1789 . President Washington assigned him the task of protecting the American settlements in the Northwest Territory. In 1790 Harmar sent an expedition against the Indians and the remaining British in the area. After initial military successes, the Americans were defeated by an alliance of different tribes led by Chief Little Turtle . This battle was known by different names: Harmar's defeat, Battle of the Maumee River , Battle of the Miami cities or the Battle of Kekionga .
A little later he returned with reinforcements, but again could not win. He was subsequently relieved of his command and replaced by General Arthur St. Clair . At his own request, he was brought before a court martial for negligence, but was acquitted.
After his retirement in 1792 Harmar served from 1793 to 1799 as Adjutant General of Pennsylvania . He died in 1813 on his estate, The Retreat, near Philadelphia.
Web links
- Josiah Harmar in the database of Find a Grave (English)
- Biography
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Harmar, Josiah |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | American officer |
| DATE OF BIRTH | November 10, 1753 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Philadelphia , Pennsylvania |
| DATE OF DEATH | August 20, 1813 |
| Place of death | near Philadelphia |