25 Facts About Francis Nash

Francis Nash quickly became engaged in revolutionary activities, and served as a delegate to the first three Patriot provincial congresses.

Francis Nash was made a brigadier general in 1777 upon Moore's death, and given command of the North Carolina brigade of the Continental Army under General George Washington.

Francis Nash was one of ten Patriot generals to die from wounds received in combat between 1775 and 1781.

Francis Nash is honored by several city and county names, including those of Nashville, Tennessee; Nashville, North Carolina; and Nash County, North Carolina.

Francis Nash was born around 1742 in Amelia County, Virginia to John and Ann Owen Francis Nash.

Francis Nash's parents were originally from Wales, and several of his seven siblings, including at least one brother, were born there.

One of Francis Nash's brothers was Abner Francis Nash, who later became a statesman in North Carolina.

The Nash brothers owned substantial property in the town, and established a mill on the Eno River, while Francis invested in a local store.

In 1770, Francis Nash married Sarah Moore, the daughter of colonial jurist Maurice Moore, niece of James Moore, and sister of future United States Supreme Court Justice Alfred Moore.

Francis Nash had two children out of wedlock, one of whom some scholars identify as a son named Francis Nash, possibly born in 1770 or 1771.

Francis Nash showed an interest in military affairs while living in Hillsborough, and received informal military training from a retired English soldier living there.

Francis Nash worked his way up through the Orange County militia ranks until he eventually became its commanding colonel.

Francis Nash entered into a pact with others including Edmund Fanning, Adlai Osborne, and future governor Alexander Martin, to protect one another's property against Regulator threats, but the parties to that agreement lived at great distances from each other, rendering the pact ineffective.

Regulator leaders attempted to have Francis Nash tried for corruption, but the charges against him were dismissed.

Francis Nash subsequently fought alongside Governor William Tryon in the Battle of Alamance against the Regulator militia.

Francis Nash served in the "Lower House" of the colonial Assembly in 1771 and from 1773 to 1775 as a representative for Hillsborough.

In 1775, Francis Nash served in the Third North Carolina Provincial Congress, which organized eight regiments of soldiers on instructions from the Continental Congress.

Francis Nash took part in the expedition to aid Charleston in 1776, which culminated in the Battle of Sullivan's Island.

Immediately prior to that engagement, Francis Nash had been ordered by Major General Charles Lee, commander of the Southern Department, to relieve William Moultrie's South Carolina troops on Sullivan's Island, but the British assault prevented that relief.

Moultrie would go on to successfully defend the island from a much larger British force, while Francis Nash's unit guarded the unfinished rear of Fort Sullivan.

Francis Nash returned with his regiment to North Carolina in anticipation of joining General George Washington's army in the north, but fears of British and Indian attacks in Georgia prevented any such action, and caused Francis Nash to remain in his home state.

Francis Nash was then placed in command of the North Carolina brigade.

Thomas Paine, who saw him taken off the battlefield, later stated that Francis Nash's wounds had made him unrecognizable.

Francis Nash was treated by Washington's personal physician, James Craik, who could not stem his bleeding, which was reported to have fully soaked through two mattresses.

Francis Nash was one of ten Patriot generals who died during the American Revolutionary War.