Isaac Shelby
| Isaac Shelby | |
|---|---|
Circa 1820
|
|
| 1st Governor of Kentucky | |
|
In office June 4, 1792 – June 1, 1796 |
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| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | James Garrard |
| 5th Governor of Kentucky | |
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In office August 24, 1812 – September 5, 1816 |
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| Lieutenant | Richard Hickman |
| Preceded by | Charles Scott |
| Succeeded by | George Madison |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
December 11, 1750 Hagerstown, Province of Maryland |
| Died | July 18, 1826 (aged 75) Lincoln County, Kentucky |
| Political party | Democratic-Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Susannah Hart |
| Relations | Ephraim McDowell (son-in-law), Charles Stewart Todd (son-in-law) |
| Residence | Traveler's Rest |
| Profession | soldier, colonial militia officer, state militia officer, farmer, politician, state governor |
| Religion | Presbyterian |
| Awards | Congressional Gold Medal, Thanks of Congress |
| Signature |  |
| Military service | |
| Nickname(s) | Old King's Mountain |
| Allegiance |
 United Kingdom,  United States
|
| Service/branch | Virginia Colonial Militia, Continental Army, Kentucky Militia |
| Years of service | 1774-1815 |
| Rank | Governor of Kentucky |
| Commands | Fincastle County company, Virginia Colonial Militia, Overmountain Men, Kentucky Militia |
| Battles/wars |
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Isaac Shelby (December 11, 1750 – July 18, 1826) was the first and fifth Governor of Kentucky and served in the state legislatures of Virginia and North Carolina. He was also, a soldier in Lord Dunmore's War, the American Revolutionary War, and the War of 1812. While governor, he led the Kentucky militia in the Battle of the Thames, an action, that was rewarded with a Congressional Gold Medal. Counties in nine states, and several cities and military bases, have been named in his honor. His fondness for John Dickinson's The Liberty Song is believed to be the reason Kentucky adopted the state motto "United we stand, divided we fall".
Issac Shelby's military service began, when he served as second-in-command to his father at the Battle of Point Pleasant, the only major battle of Lord Dunmore's War. He gained the reputation of an expert woodsman and surveyor and spent the early part of the Revolutionary War gathering supplies for the Continental Army. Later in the war he and John Sevier led expeditions over the Appalachian Mountains against the British forces in North Carolina. He played a pivotal role in the British defeat at the Battle of King's Mountain. For his service, Shelby was presented with a ceremonial sword and a pair of pistols, by the North Carolina legislature and the nickname "Old King's Mountain", followed him the rest of his life.
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Wikipedia