Alexander Skinner (surgeon)

Alexander Skinner (1743 – November 20, 1788) was a surgeon in the Continental Army during the American Revolution.

Alexander Skinner
Born1743
Prince George's County, Province of Maryland
Died20 November 1788
Richmond, Virginia
AllegianceUnited States of America
Service/branchContinental Army
Years of service1775–1783
RankSurgeon
Chief Hospital Physician
Unit1st Virginia (1775-1780), Lee's Legion (1780-1783)
Other workSurgeon, Planter

Early life and revolutionary service

Dr. Skinner was born around 1743 in Prince George's County, Maryland. At the beginning of the revolution he commissioned as a Surgeon in the 1st Regiment of the Virginia Line.[1] He acted as the Regimental Surgeon of the 1st Virginia, Continental Line from its formation in Williamsburg, Virginia 1775 till 1780. He was present at the Army's encampment at Valley Forge from December 19, 1777 to June 19, 1778 as is listed among the 1st Virginia's Regimental Staff.[2] He then was the Surgeon for Lee's Legion from 1780 until the end of the war.

After the war

Dr. Skinner was active in petitioning Congress for back pay for himself and other Surgeons of the Continental Army, and was an original member of the Virginia Society of the Cincinnati.[3] He was rewarded with many thousands of acres of land in Western Virginia (present day West Virginia) and Kentucky. As such, he was one of the many men of the Society of the Cincinnati who were instrumental in developing the infant United States west of the Appalachian Mountains. He died November 20, 1788, in Richmond, Virginia.[4] He was survived by his son, Alexander Skinner who settled on land he was awarded in lieu of payment by Congress in Western Virginia (present day West Virginia).

References
  1. "Virginia Officers and Men in the Continental Line". The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography. 2 (3): 241–258. 1895. JSTOR 4241815.
  2. http://valleyforgemusterroll.org/regiments/va1.asp
  3. https://archive.org/stream/listoforiginalme00soci#page/8/mode/2up
  4. "List of Obituaries. From Richmond, Virginia, Newspapers". The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography. 20 (3): 282–291. 1912. JSTOR 4243208.
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