Thomas Overton
Encyclopedia
Thomas Overton was an American military and political leader best known for having been the second to Andrew Jackson
in his duel
with Charles Dickinson
in 1806.
Thomas Overton was born in Louisa County
, Virginia
in 1753. His parents were James Overton and Mary Waller; his father was a great-grandson of Robert Overton
, the Parliamentarian
military commander during the English Civil War
(and friend of Marvell
and Milton
).
He served throughout the Revolutionary War in the Continental Army
, and was an original member of the Society of the Cincinnati
in Virginia.
He was first appointed 2nd Lieutenant in the 9th Virginia Regiment
in 1776 and was promoted to 1st Lieutenant in 1778. He was transferred to the 1st Virginia Regiment
on March 14, 1778 and was made a Lieutenant, adjutant of the 4th Continental Dragoons
on July 1, 1779. He was made a Captain on April 24, 1781.
He married Sarah Woodson in 1787 and Penelope Holmes (a sister of Gabriel Holmes
) in 1795. His daughter Jane (by his first wife) was the mother of Thomas Overton Moore
, Governor of Louisiana from 1860 to 1864. His son (by his first wife) Walter Hampden Overton
was elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1828.
He spent a number of years in mid-life in North Carolina
(where he represented Moore County
in the State Legislature, which made him a Brigadier General
), and in about 1804 moved to Tennessee
where he died in 1825.
His younger brother John
(of Travellers Rest) was among Jackson's
closest friends and was the founder of the city of Memphis.
Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson was the seventh President of the United States . Based in frontier Tennessee, Jackson was a politician and army general who defeated the Creek Indians at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend , and the British at the Battle of New Orleans...
in his duel
Duel
A duel is an arranged engagement in combat between two individuals, with matched weapons in accordance with agreed-upon rules.Duels in this form were chiefly practised in Early Modern Europe, with precedents in the medieval code of chivalry, and continued into the modern period especially among...
with Charles Dickinson
Charles Dickinson (historical figure)
Charles Dickinson was an American attorney, and a famous duelist. An expert marksman, Dickinson's died from injuries sustained in a duel with Andrew Jackson, who later became President of the United States.-Life:...
in 1806.
Thomas Overton was born in Louisa County
Louisa County, Virginia
Louisa County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2010, the population was 33,153. The county seat is Louisa.- History :...
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
in 1753. His parents were James Overton and Mary Waller; his father was a great-grandson of Robert Overton
Robert Overton
Major-General Robert Overton was prominent soldier and scholar, who supported the Parliamentary cause during the English Civil War, and was imprisoned a number of times during the Protectorate and the English Restoration for his strong republican views.-Biography:As positions hardened during the...
, the Parliamentarian
Roundhead
"Roundhead" was the nickname given to the supporters of the Parliament during the English Civil War. Also known as Parliamentarians, they fought against King Charles I and his supporters, the Cavaliers , who claimed absolute power and the divine right of kings...
military commander during the English Civil War
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
(and friend of Marvell
Andrew Marvell
Andrew Marvell was an English metaphysical poet, Parliamentarian, and the son of a Church of England clergyman . As a metaphysical poet, he is associated with John Donne and George Herbert...
and Milton
John Milton
John Milton was an English poet, polemicist, a scholarly man of letters, and a civil servant for the Commonwealth of England under Oliver Cromwell...
).
He served throughout the Revolutionary War in 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...
, and was an original member of the Society of the Cincinnati
Society of the Cincinnati
The Society of the Cincinnati is a historical organization with branches in the United States and France founded in 1783 to preserve the ideals and fellowship of the American Revolutionary War officers and to pressure the government to honor pledges it had made to officers who fought for American...
in Virginia.
He was first appointed 2nd Lieutenant in the 9th Virginia Regiment
Virginia Line
The Virginia Line was a formation within the Continental Army. The term "Virginia Line" referred to the quota of numbered infantry regiments assigned to Virginia at various times by the Continental Congress. These, together with similar contingents from the other twelve states, formed the...
in 1776 and was promoted to 1st Lieutenant in 1778. He was transferred to the 1st Virginia Regiment
Virginia Line
The Virginia Line was a formation within the Continental Army. The term "Virginia Line" referred to the quota of numbered infantry regiments assigned to Virginia at various times by the Continental Congress. These, together with similar contingents from the other twelve states, formed the...
on March 14, 1778 and was made a Lieutenant, adjutant of the 4th Continental Dragoons
4th Continental Light Dragoons
The 4th Continental Light Dragoons also known as Moylan's Horse was raised on January 5, 1777 at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for service with the Continental Army under Colonel Stephen Moylan...
on July 1, 1779. He was made a Captain on April 24, 1781.
He married Sarah Woodson in 1787 and Penelope Holmes (a sister of Gabriel Holmes
Gabriel Holmes
Gabriel Holmes was the 21st Governor of the U.S. state of North Carolina from 1821 to 1824. He was not affiliated with any party; a Representative from North Carolina; born near Clinton, Sampson County, N.C., in 1769; attended Zion Parnassus Academy in Rowan County and Harvard University; studied...
) in 1795. His daughter Jane (by his first wife) was the mother of Thomas Overton Moore
Thomas Overton Moore
Thomas Overton Moore was an attorney and politician who was the 16th Governor of Louisiana from 1860 until 1864 during the American Civil War.-Early years:...
, Governor of Louisiana from 1860 to 1864. His son (by his first wife) Walter Hampden Overton
Walter Hampden Overton
Walter Hampden Overton was a U.S. Representative representing Louisiana's 3rd congressional district. He was born near Louisa Court House, Virginia in 1788 and moved in infancy with his father Thomas Overton to North Carolina, and then to Tennessee in 1801. Overton attended the common schools...
was elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1828.
He spent a number of years in mid-life in North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
(where he represented Moore County
Moore County, North Carolina
Moore County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of 2000, the population was 74,769. Its county seat is Carthage.- History :The county was formed in 1784 from Cumberland County...
in the State Legislature, which made him a Brigadier General
Brigadier General
Brigadier general is a senior rank in the armed forces. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries, usually sitting between the ranks of colonel and major general. When appointed to a field command, a brigadier general is typically in command of a brigade consisting of around 4,000...
), and in about 1804 moved to Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
where he died in 1825.
His younger brother John
John Overton (judge)
John Overton was an advisor of Andrew Jackson, a judge at the Superior Court of Tennessee, a banker and political leader.Overton was born in Louisa County, Virginia...
(of Travellers Rest) was among Jackson's
Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson was the seventh President of the United States . Based in frontier Tennessee, Jackson was a politician and army general who defeated the Creek Indians at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend , and the British at the Battle of New Orleans...
closest friends and was the founder of the city of Memphis.