John Laurens

John Laurens
A 1780 miniature portrait of Laurens, by Charles Willson Peale
A 1780 miniature portrait of Laurens, by Charles Willson Peale
Born(1754-10-28)October 28, 1754
Charlestown, South Carolina, British America
(now Charleston, South Carolina, U.S.)
DiedAugust 27, 1782(1782-08-27) (aged 27)
Combahee River, near Beaufort, South Carolina, U.S.
Buried
Laurens Family Cemetery, Mepkin Abbey
Moncks Corner, South Carolina, U.S.
Allegiance United States of America
Service/branchContinental Army
Years of service1777–1782
Rank Lieutenant colonel
Battles/warsAmerican Revolutionary War
Spouse(s)Martha Manning (m. 1776; died 1781)
ChildrenFrances Eleanor Laurens (b. 1777)
Relations
SignatureJohn Laurens signature

John Laurens (October 28, 1754 – August 27, 1782) was an American soldier and statesman from South Carolina during the American Revolutionary War, best known for his criticism of slavery and his efforts to help recruit slaves to fight for their freedom as U.S. soldiers.[1]

In 1779, Laurens gained approval from the Continental Congress for his plan to recruit a brigade of 3,000 slaves by promising them freedom in return for fighting. The plan was defeated by political opposition in South Carolina. Laurens was killed in the Battle of the Combahee River in August 1782.

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference Massey2003 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

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