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.
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
Inscription
"Lieut. Colonel in the Army of the American Revolution"
Family Members
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See more Fish memorials in:
Records on Ancestry
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