Frederick, Baron de Weissenfels
Encyclopedia
Frederick, Baron de Weissenfels [also Friedrich Heinrich] (1738 Elbing
, Prussia
- 14 May 1806 New Orleans) was a leading soldier in the service of the Continental Army
during the American Revolutionary War
.
at the Military Academy at Koingbergy. He served in a Regiment of Dragoons in the Prussian Army during the War of the Austrian Succession (1740–1748). He served six years in a calvalry unit in the army of the United Provinces of the Netherland garrisoned at Zutphen. He served four years in the British
British army in North America. He fought in the French and Indian War
in the battles of the Plains of Abraham
, Ticonderoga
and Havana.
After the Treaty of Paris (1763)
, he settled in Dutchess County, New York
at half pay. His first marriage was to Mary Shumur in the Dutch Reform Church of New York City on Dec. 16, 1756. She died in 1776 in New York City. The marriage produced eight children: Ann (1757–1847), Charles Frederick (1760–1795), Catherine Maria (1761–1830), George Peter (1764–1798), John Henry (1767–1787), William Henry (1770-), Mary Charlotte (1772-), and Elizabeth Anna (1775-). His second marriage was to Elizabeth Williams on Feb.26, 1777, General Steuben was his best man. This marriage produced two children: Harriet (1779–1855) and Frederick (1780–1798).
Following his principles rather than the advice of friends, he early joined the side of the revolutionaries in the American Revolutionary War
. He was commission a Captain in the First New York on June 28, 1775, commissioned Lieutenant-Colonel of the 3rd New York on March 8, 1776, became a Lt. Col. of the 2nd New York Levies on Nov. 21, 1776, and Lt. Col. Commandant of the 4th New York Levies on Jan. 13, 1779. He retired from the service on Jan. 1, 1784. Two of his sons also served in the American Army during the American Revolution: Charles Frederick Weissenfels and George Peter Weissenfels.
His first expedition was the 1775 Battle of Quebec
. Congress appointed him a lieutenant-colonel in the 3rd Battalion of the 2nd New York Regiment
in 1776, which battalion he soon commanded. He fought at White Plains
, Trenton
, Saratoga
and Monmouth
. He accompanied Gen. John Sullivan's expedition
against the Iroquois in 1779, and fought at Newtowne
.
After the peace, he was honorably discharged by Congress. He was the first vice-president of the New York Deutsche Gesellschaft, of which Steuben was for many years president. He was Captain of the Guard for the City of New York in 1788. He served as Inspector of Spiritous Liquors for the City of New York in 1791. In 1796, he was Gauger of the customs in New York City. He remained a resident of New York City until 1804. Weissenfels was a founding member of the Society of the Cincinnati.
The war left him impoverished. In June of 1787, he wrote to George Washington requesting the general's assistance in obtaining a government appointment. Washington declined. At the time of his death on May 14, 1806, he filled a minor office in the police department in New Orleans. Louisiana, which was obtained for him by Abraham Redwood Ellery, a wealthy New Orleans planter and the husband of his granddaughter, Sarah Charlotte Weissenfels.
Elblag
Elbląg is a city in northern Poland with 127,892 inhabitants . It is the capital of Elbląg County and has been assigned to the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship since 1999. Before then it was the capital of Elbląg Voivodeship and a county seat in Gdańsk Voivodeship...
, Prussia
Prussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
- 14 May 1806 New Orleans) was a leading soldier in the service of the Continental Army
Continental Army
The Continental Army was formed after the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War by the colonies that became the United States of America. Established by a resolution of the Continental Congress on June 14, 1775, it was created to coordinate the military efforts of the Thirteen Colonies in...
during the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
.
Biography
He was born in 1728 in the Kingdom of Prussia near the town of Eblingen. Frederick received his military training under Frederick II of PrussiaFrederick II of Prussia
Frederick II was a King in Prussia and a King of Prussia from the Hohenzollern dynasty. In his role as a prince-elector of the Holy Roman Empire, he was also Elector of Brandenburg. He was in personal union the sovereign prince of the Principality of Neuchâtel...
at the Military Academy at Koingbergy. He served in a Regiment of Dragoons in the Prussian Army during the War of the Austrian Succession (1740–1748). He served six years in a calvalry unit in the army of the United Provinces of the Netherland garrisoned at Zutphen. He served four years in the British
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
British army in North America. He fought in the French and Indian War
French and Indian War
The French and Indian War is the common American name for the war between Great Britain and France in North America from 1754 to 1763. In 1756, the war erupted into the world-wide conflict known as the Seven Years' War and thus came to be regarded as the North American theater of that war...
in the battles of the Plains of Abraham
Battle of the Plains of Abraham
The Battle of the Plains of Abraham, also known as the Battle of Quebec, was a pivotal battle in the Seven Years' War...
, Ticonderoga
Battle of Ticonderoga (1759)
The 1759 Battle of Ticonderoga was a minor confrontation at Fort Carillon on July 26 and 27, 1759, during the French and Indian War...
and Havana.
After the Treaty of Paris (1763)
Treaty of Paris (1763)
The Treaty of Paris, often called the Peace of Paris, or the Treaty of 1763, was signed on 10 February 1763, by the kingdoms of Great Britain, France and Spain, with Portugal in agreement. It ended the French and Indian War/Seven Years' War...
, he settled in Dutchess County, New York
Dutchess County, New York
Dutchess County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York, in the state's Mid-Hudson Region of the Hudson Valley. The 2010 census lists the population as 297,488...
at half pay. His first marriage was to Mary Shumur in the Dutch Reform Church of New York City on Dec. 16, 1756. She died in 1776 in New York City. The marriage produced eight children: Ann (1757–1847), Charles Frederick (1760–1795), Catherine Maria (1761–1830), George Peter (1764–1798), John Henry (1767–1787), William Henry (1770-), Mary Charlotte (1772-), and Elizabeth Anna (1775-). His second marriage was to Elizabeth Williams on Feb.26, 1777, General Steuben was his best man. This marriage produced two children: Harriet (1779–1855) and Frederick (1780–1798).
Following his principles rather than the advice of friends, he early joined the side of the revolutionaries in the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
. He was commission a Captain in the First New York on June 28, 1775, commissioned Lieutenant-Colonel of the 3rd New York on March 8, 1776, became a Lt. Col. of the 2nd New York Levies on Nov. 21, 1776, and Lt. Col. Commandant of the 4th New York Levies on Jan. 13, 1779. He retired from the service on Jan. 1, 1784. Two of his sons also served in the American Army during the American Revolution: Charles Frederick Weissenfels and George Peter Weissenfels.
His first expedition was the 1775 Battle of Quebec
Battle of Quebec (1775)
The Battle of Quebec was fought on December 31, 1775 between American Continental Army forces and the British defenders of the city of Quebec, early in the American Revolutionary War. The battle was the first major defeat of the war for the Americans, and it came at a high price...
. Congress appointed him a lieutenant-colonel in the 3rd Battalion of the 2nd New York Regiment
2nd New York Regiment
The 2nd New York Regiment was authorized on May 25, 1775, and formed at Albany from June 28 to August 4 for service with the Continental Army under the command of Colonel Goose Van Schaick...
in 1776, which battalion he soon commanded. He fought at White Plains
Battle of White Plains
The Battle of White Plains was a battle in the New York and New Jersey campaign of the American Revolutionary War fought on October 28, 1776, near White Plains, New York. Following the retreat of George Washington's Continental Army northward from New York City, British General William Howe landed...
, Trenton
Battle of Trenton
The Battle of Trenton took place on December 26, 1776, during the American Revolutionary War, after General George Washington's crossing of the Delaware River north of Trenton, New Jersey. The hazardous crossing in adverse weather made it possible for Washington to lead the main body of the...
, Saratoga
Battle of Saratoga
The Battles of Saratoga conclusively decided the fate of British General John Burgoyne's army in the American War of Independence and are generally regarded as a turning point in the war. The battles were fought eighteen days apart on the same ground, south of Saratoga, New York...
and Monmouth
Battle of Monmouth
The Battle of Monmouth was an American Revolutionary War battle fought on June 28, 1778 in Monmouth County, New Jersey. The Continental Army under General George Washington attacked the rear of the British Army column commanded by Lieutenant General Sir Henry Clinton as they left Monmouth Court...
. He accompanied Gen. John Sullivan's expedition
Sullivan Expedition
The Sullivan Expedition, also known as the Sullivan-Clinton Expedition, was an American campaign led by Major General John Sullivan and Brigadier General James Clinton against Loyalists and the four nations of the Iroquois who had sided with the British in the American Revolutionary War.The...
against the Iroquois in 1779, and fought at Newtowne
Battle of Newtown
The Battle of Newtown , also known as the Battle of Chemung, was the only major battle of the Sullivan Expedition, an armed offensive led by General John Sullivan that was ordered by the Continental Congress to end the threat of the Iroquois who had sided with the British in the American...
.
After the peace, he was honorably discharged by Congress. He was the first vice-president of the New York Deutsche Gesellschaft, of which Steuben was for many years president. He was Captain of the Guard for the City of New York in 1788. He served as Inspector of Spiritous Liquors for the City of New York in 1791. In 1796, he was Gauger of the customs in New York City. He remained a resident of New York City until 1804. Weissenfels was a founding member of the Society of the Cincinnati.
The war left him impoverished. In June of 1787, he wrote to George Washington requesting the general's assistance in obtaining a government appointment. Washington declined. At the time of his death on May 14, 1806, he filled a minor office in the police department in New Orleans. Louisiana, which was obtained for him by Abraham Redwood Ellery, a wealthy New Orleans planter and the husband of his granddaughter, Sarah Charlotte Weissenfels.