Joseph Winston

Col. Joseph Winston (June 17, 1746 in Louisa County, Virginia – April 21, 1815 near Germanton, North Carolina) was an American pioneer, planter and Revolutionary War hero from North Carolina, and the first cousin of statesman and Virginia governor Patrick Henry. In 1766, Winston moved to the northern part of Rowan County, North Carolina, the area which subsequently became the current Stokes County, North Carolina.

During the American Revolutionary War he was a major, leading a company of riflemen in several important battles, including the Battle of Kings Mountain and the Battle of Guilford Court House. Winston later represented North Carolina as a U.S. Congressman and also served in the North Carolina Senate. He is buried in the National Park at the site of the Battle of Guilford Court House, where a monument erected in 1893 notes Winston's command of the militia forces. The town of Winston, North Carolina (which later became part of Winston-Salem) is named for him.