U.S. Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ -- USGenNet Inc. -- Please read the U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on the following page: ------------------------------------------------------------------- Clark, George Rogers (1752-1818) ------------------------------------------------------------------- History of Harrison County, West Virginia, From the Early Days of Northwestern Virginia to the Present. by Henry Haymond Acme Publishing Company, Morgantown, W.Va., 1910 Pages 374-375 George Rogers Clark was born November 19, 1752 near Monticello Albermarle County, Virginia. He was surveyor by occupation in early life and his duties as such carried him to the upper Ohio region west of the mountains. In 1774 he was a Captain in Lord Dunmore's campaign against the Indians West of the Ohio. In 1775 he went as a surveyor to Kentucky and in 1776 was chosen a delegate to the Virginia Assembly to urge upon the State authorities to give aid and protection to the Kentucky frontier as that region was under the jurisdiction of Virginia. In 1777 he was a major of Kentucky Militia and engaged in the repelling of the attacks of the Indians on the settlements. In 1778 he was appointed Lieut. Colonel and authorized to raise a force to capture the British Posts in the Illinois Country. He collected recruits and organized his expedition at the Falls of the Ohio, now Louisville, and after incredible hardships was successful in capturing Kaskaskia and Vincennes, and with the latter Fort Lieut. Gov. Hamilton of Canada known among the frontiersmen as the "hair buyer." Clark was promoted to Brig. General and was prominent on the frontier in the Indian troubles, and all that rich domain North West of the Ohio was secured to the Republic at the peace with Great Britain in 1783 in consequence of his energy, capacity and prowess. His later years were spent in poverty and seclusion and unfortunately his social habits were none of the best. He died February 18, 1818 at Locust Grove near Louisville and was buried at Cave Hill in the suburbs of that City. The town of Clarksburg was named in his honor. ------------------------------------------------------------------- If you've reached this file through a SEARCH, you can access other biographies for Harrison County, WV by going to the following URL: http://www.us-data.org/wv/harrison/bios.html -------------------------------------------------------------------