Maj. Nicholas Fish

Major Nicholas Fish

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/341/nicholas-fish

DAR #A047767

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicholas_Fish

Nicholas Fish (1758–1833) was an American Revolutionary soldier, born in New York City.

He attended Princeton but left before graduating to pursue the study of law at King's College (now Columbia University) through the office of John Morin Scott in New York. There he became actively interested in the organization of the Sons of Liberty.

American Revolutionary War

In 1776 he was appointed by Scott aide-de-camp on his staff. Scott had been commissioned brigadier general. On August 21, 1776 he was appointed major of the 2nd New York Regiment. He served as a division inspector under Steuben in 1778, participated in the battles of Saratoga and Monmouth, in Sullivan's expedition against the Native Americans in 1779, and in the Virginia and Yorktown campaigns, in which he served for a time on the staff of Lafayette.

After War Years

In 1786 he was appointed adjutant general of New York State, which position he held for many years. In 1794 he was appointed by Washington supervisor of the Federal revenue in New York City. On two occasions Fish ran unsuccessfully for United States Congress, losing to Samuel L. Mitchill in 1804 and Gurdon S. Mumford in 1806. Fish also twice ran unsuccessfully for Lieutenant Governor of New York. In 1810, he was the Federalist candidate, but lost to incumbent John Broome. Broome subsequently died one month into his term in August 1810. Fish ran in a special election for Lieutenant Governor in 1811 to fill the vacancy created by Broome's death, but lost to the then-mayor of New York City, DeWitt Clinton. During the War of 1812, Fish served as a member of the City Committee of Defense.

With Alexander Hamilton he served in New York Militia Hearts of Oak (1st Battalion/5th Field Artillery Regiment).

Father of New York Governor/Senator Hamilton Fish.

Nicholas Fish's portrait can be seen at far right bottom row of John Trumbull's The Surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown painting.

Fish died in 1833, and was buried in the churchyard of St. Mark's Church in-the-Bowery in New York City.
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Revolutionary War Continental Army Officer. Born in Newtown, New York, he began law studies at age 16 at Princeton and at King's College (now Columbia University), where he met his lifelong friend Alexander Hamilton. At the start of the Revolution the two joined the "Hearts of Oak" volunteer militia and the following year Fish was appointed major in the 2nd New York Regiment. He served with distinction throughout the war, weathering the brutal winter at Valley Forge (1777 to 1778), and in action at the battles of Long Island (1776), Saratoga (1777), and Monmouth (1778). At Yorktown (1781) he was Hamilton's second in command of three battalions and their efforts were decisive in the British defeat and surrender. After the war Fish served as New York State Adjutant General (1786 to 1833) and as a New York City alderman (1806 to 1817), though his bids for US Congress and as Lieutenant Governor of New York met with defeat. In 1804 he married into the prominent Stuyvesant family. At the end of his life he was chairman of the Board of Trustees at Columbia College, a post later held by his son, Hamilton Fish. He was buried in the churchyard of St. Mark's, across the street from his home (the Stuyvesant-Fish House, now a historic landmark); there is also a memorial tablet for him inside the church. In John Trumbull's famous painting "The Surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown" (1820), Fish is shown standing at the bottom right corner.

Bio by: Bobb Edwards