George Croghan (soldier)

George Croghan (November 15, 1791 – January 8, 1849) was an American soldier. He was born at the Locust Grove farm in what is now Louisville, Kentucky and died in New Orleans, Louisiana. He was a recipient of the Congressional Gold Medal.

George Croghan
George Croghan
Born	(1791-11-15)November 15, 1791 Louisville, Kentucky
Died	January 8, 1849(1849-01-08) (aged 57) New Orleans, Louisiana
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Army
Years of service	1811–1817, 1825–1849
Rank	Colonel
Commands held	Inspector General of the U. S. Army
Battles/wars	War of 1812 Battle of Tippecanoe Battle of Fort Stephenson Battle of Mackinac Island Mexican–American War Battle of Monterrey

Congressional medal presented by Congress February 13, 1835. Obverse: Presented by Congress to Colonel George Croghan, 1835. Bust of Colonel Croghan Reverse: Pars Magna Fuit (His share was great.) Ft. Stephenson with three gunboats on Lake Erie in background

Early life and family

George Croghan was born in Louisville, Kentucky. His father was William Croghan a Catholic of Dublin, Ireland, and he had served in the Revolutionary War at the battles of Brandywine and Monmouth.[1] His mother was Lucy Clark Croghan. She had two brothers who achieved renown: Captain William Clark and General George Rogers Clark. Croghan married Serena Livingston, a granddaughter of Robert Livingston (1718–1775) of Clermont Manor in New York.

Education and career

Croghan studied at the College of William and Mary and joined the army after he graduated in 1810. He fought at the Battle of Tippecanoe in 1811. He also served at Fort Meigs (modern Perrysburg, Ohio) with distinction. For his defense with a small garrison against a British attack during the Battle of Fort Stephenson, Ohio, in 1813 during the War of 1812, he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel. He later led a troop that was defeated in the Battle of Mackinac Island.

Following the war, Croghan resigned from the army during a reduction in force and was appointed as a postmaster in New Orleans. In 1825, he became one of the two inspector generals in the army. During the Mexican–American War Croghan fought as a colonel at Monterrey.

Croghan died in the cholera epidemic of 1849, which had high mortality rates. Former President of the United States James K. Polk also died in the epidemic. It is believed that later in life Croghan had a problem with alcoholism. But he was cordial and considered to be very much a gentleman.

Legacy and honors

Colonel Croghan is buried at the site of Fort Stephenson, in what is now Fremont, Ohio. The former fort site was preserved in a parklike setting, where the main public library was constructed. Croghan's tomb and a soldiers' memorial to the war installed by the DAR in 1903 are both located on the library grounds near Croghan Street, which was renamed in his honor.

The village and town of Croghan, New York are also named after him.[2]

References

1. Meek, Basil. Twentieth Century History of Sandusky County, Ohio. Chicago: Richmond-Arnold Publishing Co., 1909.
2. Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 96.

• Sandusky County Soldiers' Monument Association (1885). Proceedings at the Unveiling of the Soldiers' Monument on the Site of Fort Stephenson, Fremont, Ohio. Fremont, Ohio: The Democratic Messenger. pp. 102–103.