Colonel George Croghan

Croghan, George, Colonel, was born in Ireland, probably early in the 18th century. He emigrated to Pennsylvania, where in 1746 he entered upon a course of Indian trading — learning the languages of the tribes and gaining their confidence. He was a captain in Braddock's expedition of 1755, was employed in the defence of the western frontier next year, and was made agent for the Pennsylvanian and Ohio Indians. In 1763 he went to Great Britain to confer with the Ministry relative to an Indian boundary-line. In 1765, while on his way to pacify the Illinois Indians, he was attacked, wounded, and taken prisoner, being, however, soon released, and then permitted to accomplish his mission. In May 1766 he made a settlement four miles above Fort Pitt, continuing to render valuable service in pacifying the Indians, and reconciling them to British power. During the early part of the Revolutionary war he was suspected, perhaps wrongly, of British proclivities. He died at Passayunk, Pennsylvania, about August 1782. Although styled Colonel by Drake, the date of his attaining that command is not mentioned.

Sources

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