John Doughty
John Doughty | |
---|---|
Senior Officer of the United States Army | |
In office 20 June 1784 – 12 August 1784 | |
Preceded by | Henry Knox |
Succeeded by | Josiah Harmar |
Personal details | |
Born | Lieutenant Colonel | July 25, 1754
John Doughty (July 25, 1754 – September 16, 1826) was an American military officer who briefly served as the senior officer of the United States Army in 1784. Holding the rank of major at the time, he bears the distinction of being the lowest ranked individual ever to serve as the senior most United States Army officer.
Biography
Born in New York City on July 25, 1754, he graduated from King's College (Columbia University) in 1770 and entered military service through New Jersey state channels in January 1776.
American Revolution
He served as adjutant general of two
Doughty would participate in the battles of
Post Revolution
Doughty became the Army's senior ranking officer following the discharge of Jackson's regiment in June 1784, leaving Doughty in command of a company of 55 artillerymen at
On August 12 of the same year, an
Doughty was designated major commandant of the Battalion of Artillery in September 1789, and then was dispatched by President Washington to the frontier to negotiate with the Choctaw Nation for trading post sites in 1789. He was repelled with serious losses when attacked by Cherokee, Shawnee, and Muscogee people, while leading a detachment up the Tennessee River on a negotiating mission to the Chickasaw Nation in 1790.
In March 1791 Doughty was offered the position of lieutenant colonel commandant (i.e. commanding officer) of the newly formed 2nd Infantry Regiment. Doughty declined the appointment and decided to retire from the Army instead.
Doughty was appointed brigadier general of artillery, 2d Division, New Jersey militia in 1793 and was appointed lieutenant colonel, 2d Regiment of Artillerists and Engineers, as war with France threatened in June 1798.
In May 1800 Doughty resigned from the Army and returned to private life on his estate at Morristown, New Jersey, to engage in agriculture and pursue literary studies. He died there on September 16, 1826. He is buried in the First Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Morristown.
References
This article incorporates public domain material from John Doughty. United States Army Center of Military History.
- Service record from Francis B. Heitman's Historical Register of Officers of the Continental Army