Brigadier-General Edward Hand

Alfred Webb

A Compendium of Irish Biography

1878

Hand, Edward, Brigadier-General, United States Army, was born at Clyduff, in the King's County, 31st December 1744. In October 1774 he accompanied the 18th Royal Irish to America, as surgeon's mate; he resigned his post on arrival, and settled in Philadelphia for the practice of his profession. He espoused the cause of the Revolution, joined a rifle regiment as Lieutenant-Colonel, and served at the siege of Boston. In March 1776 he was promoted to be Colonel, and led his regiment at the battles of Long Island and Trenton. As Brigadier-General he was in command at Albany in October 1778, and soon afterwards was engaged in Sullivan's expedition against the Indians of central New York. He held other important commands during the war, and after its termination was a member of the old Congress, 1784-'5; and his name is affixed to the Pennsylvania constitution of 1790. In 1798, when Washington accepted the command of the army raised in anticipation of a war with France, he recommended the appointment of Hand as Adjutant-General. He died at Rockford, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, 3rd September 1802, aged 57.

Sources

37a. Biographical Dictionary—American Biography: Francis S. Drake. Boston, 1876.

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