Anthony Wayne
Anthony Wayne (January 1, 1745 – December 15, 1796) was an American soldier, officer, statesman, and a Founding Father of the United States. He adopted a military career at the outset of the American Revolutionary War, where his military exploits and fiery personality quickly earned him a promotion to brigadier general and the nickname "Mad Anthony". He later served as the Senior Officer of the Army on the Ohio Country frontier and led the Legion of the United States.
Anthony Wayne | |
|---|---|
Portrait by Edward Savage, c. 1795 | |
| 5th Senior Officer of the United States Army | |
| In office April 13, 1792 – December 15, 1796 | |
| President | George Washington |
| Preceded by | Arthur St. Clair |
| Succeeded by | James Wilkinson |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Georgia's 1st district | |
| In office March 4, 1791 – March 21, 1792 | |
| Preceded by | James Jackson |
| Succeeded by | John Milledge |
| Legislature Member of the Pennsylvania Assembly | |
| In office 1774–1775 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | January 1, 1745 Easttown Township, Province of Pennsylvania, British America |
| Died | December 15, 1796 (aged 51) Fort Presque Isle, Erie, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Resting place | Fort Presque Isle, Erie, Pennsylvania, U.S. and St. David's Episcopal Church, Radnor, U.S. |
| Political party | Anti-Administration party |
| Spouse |
Mary Penrose (m. 1763) |
| Children | 2, including Isaac |
| Parent |
|
| Relatives | William Wayne (great-grandson) William Wayne (great-great-grandson) Blake Wayne Van Leer Jonwayne Samuel Van Leer (brother-in-law) |
| Occupation | Soldier |
| Signature | |
| Nickname | Mad Anthony |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch/service | Pennsylvania Militia Continental Army United States Army |
| Years of service | Continental Army (1775–1783) United States Army (1792–1796) |
| Rank | Major general |
| Battles/wars | |
Wayne was born in Chester County, Pennsylvania, and worked as a tanner and surveyor after attending the College of Philadelphia. He was elected to the Pennsylvania General Assembly and helped raise a Pennsylvania militia unit in 1775. During the Revolutionary War, he served in the Invasion of Quebec, the Philadelphia campaign, and the Yorktown campaign. Although his reputation suffered after his defeat in the Battle of Paoli, he won wide praise for his leadership in the 1779 Battle of Stony Point and was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal. Soon after being promoted to major general in 1783, he retired from the Continental Army. Anthony Wayne was a member of the Society of the Cincinnati of the state of Georgia. In 1780, he was elected to the American Philosophical Society.
After the war, Wayne held a brief career in congress and private business. Following St. Clair's defeat, Wayne was recalled by President Washington from civilian life to command of U.S. forces in the Northwest Indian War, where he defeated the British-backed Northwestern Confederacy, an alliance of several Native American tribes. Leading up to the war, Wayne oversaw a major change and reorganization of the entire United States Army. Following the 1794 Battle of Fallen Timbers, he later negotiated the Treaty of Greenville which ended the war and their alliance with the British.
Wayne's legacy is controversial and debated in the 21st century with his legacy contested, due to his tactics under George Washington's policies against Native Americans during the Northwest Indian War.