"DIED.
-At his house in this city, Tuesday evening, CHRISTIAN FEBIGER Esquire, Treasurer of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania."
The Philadelphia Minerva. 24 September 1796
Col. Hans Christian Febiger was born on Funen island located between S. Jutland and Zealand in the Kingdom of Denmark. Funen was also the birthplace of the noted author, Hans Christian Andersen.
Following the death of his father in 1762, Febiger accompanied his uncle who had been named governor of the Danish colony of Santa Cruz (St. Croix) in the (then) Danish West Indies. Febiger became involved in commerce, which brought him to the New England colonies just prior to the revolution. Febiger joined a Massachusetts regiment at the outbreak of hostilities, and distinguished himself at the Battle of Bunker Hill, 17 June 1775.
Col. Febiger joined Gen. Benedict Arnold's ill fated expedition to Canada, and was captured during the storming of Quebec, 31 December 1775. He was exchanged in New York sometime in the Fall of 1776, and by 13 November 1776 was appointed a Lt. Colonel in the Virginia Line. After the Battle of Brandywine (Pa.), he was made colonel of the 2nd Virginia regiment.
Febiger assisted Gen. Nathanael Greene at the Battle of Germantown (Phila.), and led 4,000 troops at the Battle of Monmouth (N.J.). He also played an active role in the Battle of Stony Point (N.Y.), where he personally captured the British commander.
Col. Febiger later oversaw commissariat duties involved with the Continental Army at Philadelphia, though he was in the field at intervals, up to and including the surrender of Gen. Cornwallis at the concluding Battle of Yorktown, Va.
Col. Febiger retired from active service on 1 January 1783, and was brevetted brigadier general on 30 September 1787. This position he never actively assumed, prefering the title of "Colonel" as stated by the colonel: (it is)"more to one's business advantage in America to be known as "Colonel". Col. Febiger was also an original member of the Society of the Cincinnati, first with the Virginia, and later Pennsylvania branches.
Col. Febiger settled in Philadelphia, where he became involved with several successful business interests. He was named Treasurer of Pennsylvania, a position he held until his death.
Febiger bore the moniker "Old Denmark" as a token of affection by his peers including Gen. George Washington, who was counted as a confidant. Colonel Febiger was purported to be the only soldier of the Continental Army to have served in every major engagement of the Revolution.
His marriage to Miss Elizabeth Carson, produced no issue, but the couple adopted a nephew of Mrs. Febiger's (Christian Carson Febiger), s/o Dr. John Carson, a trustee of the University of Pennsylvania) who continued the line.
-At his house in this city, Tuesday evening, CHRISTIAN FEBIGER Esquire, Treasurer of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania."
The Philadelphia Minerva. 24 September 1796
Col. Hans Christian Febiger was born on Funen island located between S. Jutland and Zealand in the Kingdom of Denmark. Funen was also the birthplace of the noted author, Hans Christian Andersen.
Following the death of his father in 1762, Febiger accompanied his uncle who had been named governor of the Danish colony of Santa Cruz (St. Croix) in the (then) Danish West Indies. Febiger became involved in commerce, which brought him to the New England colonies just prior to the revolution. Febiger joined a Massachusetts regiment at the outbreak of hostilities, and distinguished himself at the Battle of Bunker Hill, 17 June 1775.
Col. Febiger joined Gen. Benedict Arnold's ill fated expedition to Canada, and was captured during the storming of Quebec, 31 December 1775. He was exchanged in New York sometime in the Fall of 1776, and by 13 November 1776 was appointed a Lt. Colonel in the Virginia Line. After the Battle of Brandywine (Pa.), he was made colonel of the 2nd Virginia regiment.
Febiger assisted Gen. Nathanael Greene at the Battle of Germantown (Phila.), and led 4,000 troops at the Battle of Monmouth (N.J.). He also played an active role in the Battle of Stony Point (N.Y.), where he personally captured the British commander.
Col. Febiger later oversaw commissariat duties involved with the Continental Army at Philadelphia, though he was in the field at intervals, up to and including the surrender of Gen. Cornwallis at the concluding Battle of Yorktown, Va.
Col. Febiger retired from active service on 1 January 1783, and was brevetted brigadier general on 30 September 1787. This position he never actively assumed, prefering the title of "Colonel" as stated by the colonel: (it is)"more to one's business advantage in America to be known as "Colonel". Col. Febiger was also an original member of the Society of the Cincinnati, first with the Virginia, and later Pennsylvania branches.
Col. Febiger settled in Philadelphia, where he became involved with several successful business interests. He was named Treasurer of Pennsylvania, a position he held until his death.
Febiger bore the moniker "Old Denmark" as a token of affection by his peers including Gen. George Washington, who was counted as a confidant. Colonel Febiger was purported to be the only soldier of the Continental Army to have served in every major engagement of the Revolution.
His marriage to Miss Elizabeth Carson, produced no issue, but the couple adopted a nephew of Mrs. Febiger's (Christian Carson Febiger), s/o Dr. John Carson, a trustee of the University of Pennsylvania) who continued the line.
"DIED.
-At his house in this city, Tuesday evening, CHRISTIAN FEBIGER Esquire, Treasurer of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania."
The Philadelphia Minerva. 24 September 1796
Col. Hans Christian Febiger was born on Funen island located between S. Jutland and Zealand in the Kingdom of Denmark. Funen was also the birthplace of the noted author, Hans Christian Andersen.
Following the death of his father in 1762, Febiger accompanied his uncle who had been named governor of the Danish colony of Santa Cruz (St. Croix) in the (then) Danish West Indies. Febiger became involved in commerce, which brought him to the New England colonies just prior to the revolution. Febiger joined a Massachusetts regiment at the outbreak of hostilities, and distinguished himself at the Battle of Bunker Hill, 17 June 1775.
Col. Febiger joined Gen. Benedict Arnold's ill fated expedition to Canada, and was captured during the storming of Quebec, 31 December 1775. He was exchanged in New York sometime in the Fall of 1776, and by 13 November 1776 was appointed a Lt. Colonel in the Virginia Line. After the Battle of Brandywine (Pa.), he was made colonel of the 2nd Virginia regiment.
Febiger assisted Gen. Nathanael Greene at the Battle of Germantown (Phila.), and led 4,000 troops at the Battle of Monmouth (N.J.). He also played an active role in the Battle of Stony Point (N.Y.), where he personally captured the British commander.
Col. Febiger later oversaw commissariat duties involved with the Continental Army at Philadelphia, though he was in the field at intervals, up to and including the surrender of Gen. Cornwallis at the concluding Battle of Yorktown, Va.
Col. Febiger retired from active service on 1 January 1783, and was brevetted brigadier general on 30 September 1787. This position he never actively assumed, prefering the title of "Colonel" as stated by the colonel: (it is)"more to one's business advantage in America to be known as "Colonel". Col. Febiger was also an original member of the Society of the Cincinnati, first with the Virginia, and later Pennsylvania branches.
Col. Febiger settled in Philadelphia, where he became involved with several successful business interests. He was named Treasurer of Pennsylvania, a position he held until his death.
Febiger bore the moniker "Old Denmark" as a token of affection by his peers including Gen. George Washington, who was counted as a confidant. Colonel Febiger was purported to be the only soldier of the Continental Army to have served in every major engagement of the Revolution.
His marriage to Miss Elizabeth Carson, produced no issue, but the couple adopted a nephew of Mrs. Febiger's (Christian Carson Febiger), s/o Dr. John Carson, a trustee of the University of Pennsylvania) who continued the line.
-At his house in this city, Tuesday evening, CHRISTIAN FEBIGER Esquire, Treasurer of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania."
The Philadelphia Minerva. 24 September 1796
Col. Hans Christian Febiger was born on Funen island located between S. Jutland and Zealand in the Kingdom of Denmark. Funen was also the birthplace of the noted author, Hans Christian Andersen.
Following the death of his father in 1762, Febiger accompanied his uncle who had been named governor of the Danish colony of Santa Cruz (St. Croix) in the (then) Danish West Indies. Febiger became involved in commerce, which brought him to the New England colonies just prior to the revolution. Febiger joined a Massachusetts regiment at the outbreak of hostilities, and distinguished himself at the Battle of Bunker Hill, 17 June 1775.
Col. Febiger joined Gen. Benedict Arnold's ill fated expedition to Canada, and was captured during the storming of Quebec, 31 December 1775. He was exchanged in New York sometime in the Fall of 1776, and by 13 November 1776 was appointed a Lt. Colonel in the Virginia Line. After the Battle of Brandywine (Pa.), he was made colonel of the 2nd Virginia regiment.
Febiger assisted Gen. Nathanael Greene at the Battle of Germantown (Phila.), and led 4,000 troops at the Battle of Monmouth (N.J.). He also played an active role in the Battle of Stony Point (N.Y.), where he personally captured the British commander.
Col. Febiger later oversaw commissariat duties involved with the Continental Army at Philadelphia, though he was in the field at intervals, up to and including the surrender of Gen. Cornwallis at the concluding Battle of Yorktown, Va.
Col. Febiger retired from active service on 1 January 1783, and was brevetted brigadier general on 30 September 1787. This position he never actively assumed, prefering the title of "Colonel" as stated by the colonel: (it is)"more to one's business advantage in America to be known as "Colonel". Col. Febiger was also an original member of the Society of the Cincinnati, first with the Virginia, and later Pennsylvania branches.
Col. Febiger settled in Philadelphia, where he became involved with several successful business interests. He was named Treasurer of Pennsylvania, a position he held until his death.
Febiger bore the moniker "Old Denmark" as a token of affection by his peers including Gen. George Washington, who was counted as a confidant. Colonel Febiger was purported to be the only soldier of the Continental Army to have served in every major engagement of the Revolution.
His marriage to Miss Elizabeth Carson, produced no issue, but the couple adopted a nephew of Mrs. Febiger's (Christian Carson Febiger), s/o Dr. John Carson, a trustee of the University of Pennsylvania) who continued the line.
Inscription
IN MEMORY OF
CHRISTIAN FEBIGER, ESQ.,
WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE
ON THE 20TH DAY OF SEPT., 1796
IN THE 50TH YEAR OF HIS AGE.
HE WAS A NATIVE OF DENMARK AND HE SERVED
AS AN OFFICER IN THE AMERICAN ARMY
DURING THE WAR WITH GREAT BRITAIN
AND AT ITS CONCLUSION COMMANDED
THE 2ND VIRGINIA REGIMENT.
IN THE YEAR 1789
HE WAS APPOINTED TREASURER
OF THE
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA
WHICH OFFICE HE FILLED UNTIL THE
CLOSE OF LIFE.
AS AN OFFICER HE WAS BELOVED
AS A CITIZEN HE WAS ESTEEMED AND RESPECTED
AS A FRIEND HE WAS WARM AND SINCERE
AND AS A HUSBAND TENDER AND AFFECTIONATE.
IN FINE
HIS VIEWS WERE UPRIGHT
AND HIS ACTIONS JUST.
A BROTHER SOLDIER WHO KNEW HIM WELL
OFFERS THIS SMALL TRIBUTE TO HIS MEMORY.
_________
Family Members
Advertisement
Advertisement
