Francis Nash
Francis Nash (
1742-
1777) was born in Prince Edward County,
Virginia. At an early age he became prominent as a
North Carolina merchant, attorney, and
justice of the peace; experiences which eventually led to a seat in the House of Commons in
North Carolina. In
1775, the Provincial Congress elected Nash Lieutenant Colonel of the First North Carolina Regiment, Continental Army. After taking part in the expedition to aid
Charleston in
1776 and
1777, Nash (now in command of the North Carolina Brigade) marched north to join General
George Washington's Army. He was mortally wounded while leading his brigade in the
Battle of Germantown,
4 October,
1777.
Mash was regarded by Washington as a brave and valuable soldier. The governor of North Carolina described him as "the ablest North Carolina officer in the field." The city of Nashville, Tennessee is named in his honor.
References
Initially based on public domain material from the Web site of USS Nashville (LPD-13), http://www.nashville.navy.mil/.