Richard Gentry
Encyclopedia
Richard Gentry was an American politician and military officer who died during the Seminole Wars
. The Missouri county of Gentry
is named for him.
to parents Richard and Jane (Harris) Gentry. His father was a veteran of the American Revolution
and had been present at the surrender of Lord Cornwallis
and his forces at the Battle of Yorktown
. Young Richard grew up a child of the frontier, skilled in hunting and tracking, skills that would well serve him later in life. At age 19, Richard Gentry was commissioned a Lieutenant in the 19th Regiment of the Kentucky Militia and quickly promoted to Captain just three years later in 1811. On February 13, 1810 Gentry married Ann Hawkins, also of Madison County. They would eventually have four children.
in the Great Lakes region during the War of 1812
. At
the Battle of the Thames
, Gentry and his soldiers charged through the British line and attacked the enemy from the rear resulting in their surrender. In 1816 Gentry and his young family left Kentucky for the new Missouri Territory, first settling in St. Louis County for a brief time before moving on upriver to the area around Franklin. In 1820 Gentry was one of the founders of Smithton, the village that would become Columbia, Missouri
, and built the first home there for his family. Gentry defeated William Jewell
to be elected Columbia's first Mayor. Richard Gentry was appointed a Colonel in the new Missouri Militia in 1822, and four years later in 1826 elected to a term in the Missouri Senate. President Andrew Jackson
appointed Gentry as Postmaster for Columbia, Missouri in 1830, a post he held until his death. In 1832 during the Blackhawk War Gentry was given a commission of Major General and sent with a force of soldiers into northern Missouri to prevent a threatened raid by the Sauk and Fox tribes under Chief Blackhawk.
asked Missouri for volunteers in 1837 to help quell rebellious Seminole and other southern U.S. tribes. Richard Gentry was authorized to raise 600 men for service and on October 15, 1837, rode out of Columbia with his family physician and friend Dr. William Duncan who made a prophetic observation, "I fear this is our last meeting Richard ....If you are in battle you will be killed." For the second time in his life Gentry would be entering combat under the command of a future U.S. President, this time Zachary Taylor
. Weeks later in early January 1838, the news arrived from Florida that Gentry, age 49, had died of wounds received at the Battle of Lake Okeechobee
on Christmas Day, 1837. Several years later Gentry's body would be brought back to Missouri and reburied in Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery
near St. Louis, Missouri
.
Seminole Wars
The Seminole Wars, also known as the Florida Wars, were three conflicts in Florida between the Seminole — the collective name given to the amalgamation of various groups of native Americans and Black people who settled in Florida in the early 18th century — and the United States Army...
. The Missouri county of Gentry
Gentry County, Missouri
As of the census of 2000, there were 6,861 people, 2,747 households, and 1,884 families residing in the county. The population density was 14 people per square mile . There were 3,214 housing units at an average density of 6 per square mile...
is named for him.
Early life
Richard Gentry was born August 25, 1788 in Madison County, KentuckyMadison County, Kentucky
Madison County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of 2008, the population was 82,192. Its county seat is Richmond. The county is named for Virginia statesman James Madison, who later became the fourth President of the United States. This is also where famous pioneer Daniel...
to parents Richard and Jane (Harris) Gentry. His father was a veteran of the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
and had been present at the surrender of Lord Cornwallis
Charles Cornwallis, 1st Marquess Cornwallis
Charles Cornwallis, 1st Marquess Cornwallis KG , styled Viscount Brome between 1753 and 1762 and known as The Earl Cornwallis between 1762 and 1792, was a British Army officer and colonial administrator...
and his forces at the Battle of Yorktown
Siege of Yorktown
The Siege of Yorktown, Battle of Yorktown, or Surrender of Yorktown in 1781 was a decisive victory by a combined assault of American forces led by General George Washington and French forces led by the Comte de Rochambeau over a British Army commanded by Lieutenant General Lord Cornwallis...
. Young Richard grew up a child of the frontier, skilled in hunting and tracking, skills that would well serve him later in life. At age 19, Richard Gentry was commissioned a Lieutenant in the 19th Regiment of the Kentucky Militia and quickly promoted to Captain just three years later in 1811. On February 13, 1810 Gentry married Ann Hawkins, also of Madison County. They would eventually have four children.
War, new frontier, and politics
Gentry served under General (and future U.S. President) William Henry HarrisonWilliam Henry Harrison
William Henry Harrison was the ninth President of the United States , an American military officer and politician, and the first president to die in office. He was 68 years, 23 days old when elected, the oldest president elected until Ronald Reagan in 1980, and last President to be born before the...
in the Great Lakes region during the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
. At
the Battle of the Thames
Battle of the Thames
The Battle of the Thames, also known as the Battle of Moraviantown, was a decisive American victory in the War of 1812. It took place on October 5, 1813, near present-day Chatham, Ontario in Upper Canada...
, Gentry and his soldiers charged through the British line and attacked the enemy from the rear resulting in their surrender. In 1816 Gentry and his young family left Kentucky for the new Missouri Territory, first settling in St. Louis County for a brief time before moving on upriver to the area around Franklin. In 1820 Gentry was one of the founders of Smithton, the village that would become Columbia, Missouri
Columbia, Missouri
Columbia is the fifth-largest city in Missouri, and the largest city in Mid-Missouri. With a population of 108,500 as of the 2010 Census, it is the principal municipality of the Columbia Metropolitan Area, a region of 164,283 residents. The city serves as the county seat of Boone County and as the...
, and built the first home there for his family. Gentry defeated William Jewell
William Jewell
William Jewell was a politician, physician, and educator from Columbia, Missouri and namesake of William Jewell College in Liberty, Missouri.-Life:...
to be elected Columbia's first Mayor. Richard Gentry was appointed a Colonel in the new Missouri Militia in 1822, and four years later in 1826 elected to a term in the Missouri Senate. President Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson was the seventh President of the United States . Based in frontier Tennessee, Jackson was a politician and army general who defeated the Creek Indians at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend , and the British at the Battle of New Orleans...
appointed Gentry as Postmaster for Columbia, Missouri in 1830, a post he held until his death. In 1832 during the Blackhawk War Gentry was given a commission of Major General and sent with a force of soldiers into northern Missouri to prevent a threatened raid by the Sauk and Fox tribes under Chief Blackhawk.
Final battle and death
President Martin Van BurenMartin Van Buren
Martin Van Buren was the eighth President of the United States . Before his presidency, he was the eighth Vice President and the tenth Secretary of State, under Andrew Jackson ....
asked Missouri for volunteers in 1837 to help quell rebellious Seminole and other southern U.S. tribes. Richard Gentry was authorized to raise 600 men for service and on October 15, 1837, rode out of Columbia with his family physician and friend Dr. William Duncan who made a prophetic observation, "I fear this is our last meeting Richard ....If you are in battle you will be killed." For the second time in his life Gentry would be entering combat under the command of a future U.S. President, this time Zachary Taylor
Zachary Taylor
Zachary Taylor was the 12th President of the United States and an American military leader. Initially uninterested in politics, Taylor nonetheless ran as a Whig in the 1848 presidential election, defeating Lewis Cass...
. Weeks later in early January 1838, the news arrived from Florida that Gentry, age 49, had died of wounds received at the Battle of Lake Okeechobee
Battle of Lake Okeechobee
The Battle of Lake Okeechobee was one of the major battles of the Second Seminole War. It was fought between 800 troops of the 1st, 4th, and 6th Infantry Regiments and 132 Missouri Volunteers and between 380 and 480 Seminoles led by Billy Bowlegs, Abiaca and Alligator on December 25, 1837...
on Christmas Day, 1837. Several years later Gentry's body would be brought back to Missouri and reburied in Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery
Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery
- External links :**...
near St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
.