Thomas Overton (1753–1824) was an American military and political leader best known for having been the second to
Andrew Jackson in his
duel
A duel is an arranged engagement in combat between two people, with matched weapons, in accordance with agreed-upon Code duello, rules.
During the 17th and 18th centuries (and earlier), duels were mostly single combats fought with swords (the r ...
with
Charles Dickinson in 1806.
Thomas Overton was born in
Louisa County,
Virginia in 1753. His parents were James Overton and Mary Waller; his father was a great-grandson of
Robert Overton, the
Parliamentarian military commander during the
English Civil War (and friend of
Marvell and
Milton
Milton may refer to:
Names
* Milton (surname), a surname (and list of people with that surname)
** John Milton (1608–1674), English poet
* Milton (given name)
** Milton Friedman (1912–2006), Nobel laureate in Economics, author of '' Free t ...
).
He served throughout the
Revolutionary War in the
Continental Army
The Continental Army was the army of the United Colonies (the Thirteen Colonies) in the Revolutionary-era United States. It was formed by the Second Continental Congress after the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War, and was establis ...
, and was an original member of the
Society of the Cincinnati
The Society of the Cincinnati is a fraternal, hereditary society founded in 1783 to commemorate the American Revolutionary War that saw the creation of the United States. Membership is largely restricted to descendants of military officers wh ...
in Virginia.
He was first appointed
2nd Lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces, comparable to NATO OF-1 rank.
Australia
The rank of second lieutenant existed in the military forces of the Australian colonies and Australian Army until ...
in the
9th Virginia Regiment
The 9th Virginia Regiment was authorized in the Virginia State Troops on January 11, 1776. It was subsequently organized between February 5 and March 16, 1776, and comprised seven companies of troops from easternmost Virginia. The unit was adopte ...
in 1776 and was promoted to
1st Lieutenant
First lieutenant is a commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces; in some forces, it is an appointment.
The rank of lieutenant has different meanings in different military formations, but in most forces it is sub-divided into a se ...
in 1778. He was transferred to the
1st Virginia Regiment
The 1st Virginia Regiment was an infantry regiment of the Virginia Line that served with the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War.
History Origins
The regiment originated from the Charles City-Henrico County Regiment of ...
on March 14, 1778 and was made a Lieutenant, adjutant of the
4th Continental Dragoons on July 1, 1779. He was made a
Captain
Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, e ...
on April 24, 1781.
He married Sarah Woodson in 1787 and Penelope Holmes (a sister of
Gabriel Holmes) in 1795. His daughter Jane (by his first wife) was the mother of
Thomas Overton Moore,
Governor of Louisiana from 1860 to 1864. His son (by his first wife)
Walter Hampden Overton was elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1828.
He spent a number of years in mid-life in
North Carolina
North Carolina () is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States. The state is the 28th largest and 9th-most populous of the United States. It is bordered by Virginia to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, Georgia a ...
(where he represented
Moore County in the
State Legislature, which made him a
Brigadier General
Brigadier general or Brigade general is a military rank used in many countries. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries. The rank is usually above a colonel, and below a major general or divisional general. When appointed t ...
), and in about 1804 moved to
Tennessee
Tennessee ( , ), officially the State of Tennessee, is a landlocked state in the Southeastern region of the United States. Tennessee is the 36th-largest by area and the 15th-most populous of the 50 states. It is bordered by Kentucky to ...
where he died in 1824.
His younger brother
John
John is a common English name and surname:
* John (given name)
* John (surname)
John may also refer to:
New Testament
Works
* Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John
* First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John
* Seco ...
(of
Travellers Rest) was among
Jackson's closest friends and was the founder of the city of
Memphis.
References
Read more
* Lineage Book -
National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolutionbr>
Volumes 59-60
External links
*
Historical Marker for General Thomas OvertonFind A Grave-Thomas OvertonSociety of the CincinnatiAmerican Revolution Institute
{{DEFAULTSORT:Overton, Thomas
1753 births
1824 deaths
People from Louisa County, Virginia
American people of English descent
Continental Army officers from Virginia
Dueling