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EspañolCHRISTIAN FEBIGER
'Col. Christian Febiger' (1746, Funen, Denmark - September 20, 1796, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) was an American Revolutionary War commander, confidante of General George Washington and an original member of the Society of the Cincinnati. Known by the moniker "Old Denmark", Febiger also served as Treasurer of Pennsylvania from November 13, 1789 until his death nearly seven years later.
Col. Febiger, though he was later titled Brigadier General, was born on Funen Island in Denmark in 1746. After receiving a military education in Europe (possibly in Copenhagen), Febiger journeyed with his uncle, somewhere in the late 1750s or 1760s, to the Danish possession of Santa Cruz (now known as St. Croix), where the latter had been appointed governor. Febiger is next known to have traveled through the American colonies engaged in several trades and businesses when war broke out. Febiger quickly joined with the Massachusetts Militia following the Lexington Alarm and fell under the command of Col. Samuel Gerrish.
Febiger next became engaged in the Battle of Bunker Hill and proved a capable commander at several battles throughout New England. Febiger was soon afterward appointed to accompany General Benedict Arnold on his Quebec Expedition, which eventually led to the infamous Battle of Quebec. During the raid on December 31, 1775, Febiger was taken prisoner by the British, and held captive in or around New York City until August 1776.
After his release, Febiger re-joined the Continental Forces with the 11th Virginia Regiment under the command of John Marshall, the future Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court.
After taking on a role as a recruiter in Virginia, the now Lieutenant Febiger, having been promoted by the Virginia House, is called upon by Gen. Washington to march his regiment to Headquarters in N.J. to begin preparation for deployment. Febiger is next seen fighting with the Continental Army in the Philadelphia campaign before moving on to other engagements. He eventually accompanies Washington through Princeton, Bridgewater and Bound Brook, New Jersey, near the Middle Brook encampment before fighting in the Battle of Brandywine. Following his performance at Brandywine Febiger received his appointment as Colonel on September 26, 1777 and took command of the 2nd Virginia Regiment, a post he held until the end of the war (though it is speculated that he did not accept his Colonelcy until after the battle of Germantown (see below).
In later parts of the Revolutionary War Col. Febiger commanded the 2nd Virginia Regiment through several significant battles, and also fought with Major General Nathanael Greene at Germantown and later at the Battle of Monmouth and Battle of Stony Point.
Febiger later served under General Peter Muhlenberg as a recruiting coordinator for the State of Virginia, and oversaw much of the shipment of supplies through the battle lines after being removed to Philadelphia. As with most of his military service, Febiger distinguished himself as master of the stores and transport of much of the Continental supply.
Febiger's military career for much of the rest of the War was engaged in his recruiting and oversight efforts, however, he was present at the Battle of Yorktown and the official surrender of General Cornwallis.
Colonel Febiger finally retired from active duty, following eight years of service to the Revolutionary cause, on January 1, 1783. He was officially discharged from the Continental Army on November 30th. During that period, the Continental Congress conferred to Febiger the rank of Brigadier General by brevet. Febiger, however, never truly assumed that title saying, it is " more to one's business advantage's in America to be known as 'Colonel.'"
Following the war, "Old Denmark" settled in Philadelphia and engaged in several business ventures, many of which proved rather successful. Febiger also joined the Virginia branch of the Society of the Cincinnati, but later switched his affiliation to the Pennsylvania group. After briefly serving as Auctioneer of the Northern Liberties of Philadelphia (succeeding David Rittenhouse), he eventually came to hold the post of Treasurer for the Commonwealth of Philadelphia, and was appointed to that post for every successive year until he died in 1796 (the cause of death is not quite clear). According to the Sons of the American Revolution, Pennsylvania Society, website, Febiger is buried in the historic Mount Vernon Cemetery in Philadelphia.
Col. Febiger was married to the former Miss Elizabeth Carson and though they had "no issue" by this marriage, they adopted Mrs. Febiger's nephew, Christian Carson Febiger (son of Dr. John Carson, a trustee of the University of Pennsylvania).
Febiger is listed in a February 1942 newspaper article under the Ripley's Believe it or Not! section as having been the "only soldier who took part in every important battle of the Revolutionary War from Bunker Hill to Yorktown."
Febiger was the grandfather of the Civil War hero, Admiral John Carson Febiger who later became Commandant of the Washington Navy Yard and is buried in Arlington Cemetery.
★ http://famousamericans.net/christianfebiger/
★ http://books.google.com/books?id=NyMDAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA188&lpg=PA188&dq=christian+febiger&source=web&ots=JzJUozxT9W&sig=Aju_KnxOf_vaEw0_fp-AJljyT4M#PPA203,M1
★ Ripley's Believe it or Not! (February 20, 1942)
★ Dictionary of American Biography, Vol. VI
★ The National Cyclopedia of American Biography, Vol. I (1892, pg. 86)
★ http://books.google.com/books?id=seMsAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA1&lpg=PA1&dq=the+writings+of+george+washington+and+ford&source=web&ots=1_xIPC8ldy&sig=apGjGkxz2TOm7qgl_ayu3p3Hs7o
★ http://www.sar.org/passar/graves/d_g.html
| Contents |
| Early life |
| Revolutionary War Service |
| Later life |
| Personal life and trivia |
| References |
Early life
Col. Febiger, though he was later titled Brigadier General, was born on Funen Island in Denmark in 1746. After receiving a military education in Europe (possibly in Copenhagen), Febiger journeyed with his uncle, somewhere in the late 1750s or 1760s, to the Danish possession of Santa Cruz (now known as St. Croix), where the latter had been appointed governor. Febiger is next known to have traveled through the American colonies engaged in several trades and businesses when war broke out. Febiger quickly joined with the Massachusetts Militia following the Lexington Alarm and fell under the command of Col. Samuel Gerrish.
Revolutionary War Service
Febiger next became engaged in the Battle of Bunker Hill and proved a capable commander at several battles throughout New England. Febiger was soon afterward appointed to accompany General Benedict Arnold on his Quebec Expedition, which eventually led to the infamous Battle of Quebec. During the raid on December 31, 1775, Febiger was taken prisoner by the British, and held captive in or around New York City until August 1776.
After his release, Febiger re-joined the Continental Forces with the 11th Virginia Regiment under the command of John Marshall, the future Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court.
After taking on a role as a recruiter in Virginia, the now Lieutenant Febiger, having been promoted by the Virginia House, is called upon by Gen. Washington to march his regiment to Headquarters in N.J. to begin preparation for deployment. Febiger is next seen fighting with the Continental Army in the Philadelphia campaign before moving on to other engagements. He eventually accompanies Washington through Princeton, Bridgewater and Bound Brook, New Jersey, near the Middle Brook encampment before fighting in the Battle of Brandywine. Following his performance at Brandywine Febiger received his appointment as Colonel on September 26, 1777 and took command of the 2nd Virginia Regiment, a post he held until the end of the war (though it is speculated that he did not accept his Colonelcy until after the battle of Germantown (see below).
In later parts of the Revolutionary War Col. Febiger commanded the 2nd Virginia Regiment through several significant battles, and also fought with Major General Nathanael Greene at Germantown and later at the Battle of Monmouth and Battle of Stony Point.
Febiger later served under General Peter Muhlenberg as a recruiting coordinator for the State of Virginia, and oversaw much of the shipment of supplies through the battle lines after being removed to Philadelphia. As with most of his military service, Febiger distinguished himself as master of the stores and transport of much of the Continental supply.
Febiger's military career for much of the rest of the War was engaged in his recruiting and oversight efforts, however, he was present at the Battle of Yorktown and the official surrender of General Cornwallis.
Colonel Febiger finally retired from active duty, following eight years of service to the Revolutionary cause, on January 1, 1783. He was officially discharged from the Continental Army on November 30th. During that period, the Continental Congress conferred to Febiger the rank of Brigadier General by brevet. Febiger, however, never truly assumed that title saying, it is " more to one's business advantage's in America to be known as 'Colonel.'"
Later life
Following the war, "Old Denmark" settled in Philadelphia and engaged in several business ventures, many of which proved rather successful. Febiger also joined the Virginia branch of the Society of the Cincinnati, but later switched his affiliation to the Pennsylvania group. After briefly serving as Auctioneer of the Northern Liberties of Philadelphia (succeeding David Rittenhouse), he eventually came to hold the post of Treasurer for the Commonwealth of Philadelphia, and was appointed to that post for every successive year until he died in 1796 (the cause of death is not quite clear). According to the Sons of the American Revolution, Pennsylvania Society, website, Febiger is buried in the historic Mount Vernon Cemetery in Philadelphia.
Personal life and trivia
Col. Febiger was married to the former Miss Elizabeth Carson and though they had "no issue" by this marriage, they adopted Mrs. Febiger's nephew, Christian Carson Febiger (son of Dr. John Carson, a trustee of the University of Pennsylvania).
Febiger is listed in a February 1942 newspaper article under the Ripley's Believe it or Not! section as having been the "only soldier who took part in every important battle of the Revolutionary War from Bunker Hill to Yorktown."
Febiger was the grandfather of the Civil War hero, Admiral John Carson Febiger who later became Commandant of the Washington Navy Yard and is buried in Arlington Cemetery.
References
★ http://famousamericans.net/christianfebiger/
★ http://books.google.com/books?id=NyMDAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA188&lpg=PA188&dq=christian+febiger&source=web&ots=JzJUozxT9W&sig=Aju_KnxOf_vaEw0_fp-AJljyT4M#PPA203,M1
★ Ripley's Believe it or Not! (February 20, 1942)
★ Dictionary of American Biography, Vol. VI
★ The National Cyclopedia of American Biography, Vol. I (1892, pg. 86)
★ http://books.google.com/books?id=seMsAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA1&lpg=PA1&dq=the+writings+of+george+washington+and+ford&source=web&ots=1_xIPC8ldy&sig=apGjGkxz2TOm7qgl_ayu3p3Hs7o
★ http://www.sar.org/passar/graves/d_g.html
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