Anthony Wayne
A Revolutionary War general whose aggressive tactics and battlefield courage earned him the enduring nickname 'Mad Anthony' and secured the Northwest Territory for the young United States.
1745–1796 (age 51)·American statesman and soldier·Birthday: January 1
Biography
At the Battle of Fallen Timbers in 1794, Anthony Wayne broke the power of a Native American confederation that had defeated two U.S. armies. The Pennsylvania-born planter commanded the Legion of the United States, a professional force he had meticulously trained after President Washington recalled him to service. Wayne's bold, often impulsive leadership during the American Revolution had produced spectacular victories and near-catastrophic defeats. After the war, the Northwest Territory crisis demanded his return. The confederation of tribes had routed American forces, threatening frontier settlements. Wayne drilled his new army with discipline, instilling tactics that would overwhelm the confederation at Fallen Timbers. The subsequent Treaty of Greenville opened the Ohio country to American settlement. Wayne died in 1796, but his victory had secured the frontier through force of will and military discipline. His life as a soldier and statesman transformed the territory.
#1 When Anthony Was Born
The biggest hits of 1745
Anthony's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1745Born
1750Started school
1758Became a teenager
1761Could drive
1763Could vote
1766Turned 21
1775Turned 30
1785Turned 40
1795Turned 50
1796Died at 51
Key Achievements
- Led the successful assault on the British fort at Stony Point in 1779, a daring nighttime bayonet charge that became a classic of Revolutionary warfare.
- Commanded the Legion of the United States, a new professional army, to a decisive victory at the Battle of Fallen Timbers in 1794.
- Negotiated the Treaty of Greenville in 1795, which opened much of present-day Ohio to American settlement.
- Served as a member of the Pennsylvania state convention that ratified the U.S. Constitution.
Did You Know?
The city of Fort Wayne, Indiana, is named after the military post he established.
He survived a bullet wound to the leg at the Battle of Trois-Rivières and later had a close call when a musket ball tore through his hat at the Battle of Germantown.
His nickname 'Mad Anthony' was reportedly coined for his fiery temper and relentless drive in battle.
He began his career as a surveyor and was involved in a failed settlement venture in Nova Scotia.
“Issue the orders, Sir, and I will storm Hell.”
