Christian Huck

Christian Huck (1747/8-1780) was a Loyalist soldier from Philadelphia during the American Revolutionary War known for Huck's Defeat.

     Christian Huck was born in a German State of Europe in approximately 1747/1748. Sometime within the time of his life before the Revolution began (possibly but unconfirmed in 1772), Huck immigrated to America and studied law there. Huck was “reading” law under Isaac Hunt, "A Philadelphia pamphleteer, satirist, and lawyer before the outbreak of the Revolution.” He was settled in Philadelphia as an attorney at law by 1775; buying and selling real estate for "ready money or short credit, on very low terms, giving security." As a wealthy, German Anglican, Christian Huck fit right in as a member of Philadelphia’s upper society, many of whom were loyal to the crown from the beginning of the War through to the bitter end.

     From the beginning of the War until his death in 1780, Christian Huck was a Loyalist. As the colonists’ unrest grew, Huck remained loyal and when the War officially began, his and other prominent Philadelphians were rewarded for that loyalty with Whig harassment. Vandalism, public humiliation, and ostracism were common occurrences, even effecting Huck’s mentor Isaac Hunt who was paraded through town and forced to admit and acknowledge his “misbehavior.” Huck stayed in Philadelphia throughout these hardships, continuing to work, selling and purchasing real estate.
     He contributed whenever he could to the Tory cause, associating and helping members who were targeted for their loyalty, and when the British Army occupied Philadelphia in September of 1777, Christian Huck offered his assistance. It is unclear however, as to whether or not this required him to march against his neighbors but in 1778 the Pennsylvania Supreme Court published a list titled “A Proclamation, by the Supreme Executive Council of the Common Wealth of Pennsylvania.” Each person on the list was accused of “severally [adhering] to, and knowingly and willingly [aiding] and [assisting] the enemies of the State, and of the United States of America, by having joined their armies at Philadelphia, in the County of Philadelphia, within this State,” including “Christian Hook, attorney at law.” It was required that each person listed would be required to give up all property by a certain day would be considered as having committed High Treason and would be treated accordingly, including all “pains and penalties.” It was also noted “all the faithful subjects of this State are to take notice of this Proclamation, and govern themselves accordingly.”

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