Nathaniel Ramsey
Lieutenant Colonel, Continental Army

Nathaniel Ramsey was born on 1 May 1741.

Ramsey graduated from the College of New Jersey (now Princeton) in 1767 and studied law. He was a delegate to Maryland's 1775 convention held to consider independence, and joined the militia as a Captain in January 1776. In July 1776 he joined the Continental Army as Lieutenant Colonel of the Third Maryland Regiment.

Ramsey performed heroically at the Battle of Monmouth, NJ, in 1778 immediately responding with his men to a personal plea from Washington to save the Army by holding the attacking British at bay until Washington could form his fleeing soldiers into a defensive line. Ramsey was wounded in accomplishing this task, left for dead, and taken prisoner. He was released in 1780 and served until he retired in 1781 to establish a law practice, first in Cecil County, MD, and later in Baltimore.

From 1786 to 1787, Ramsey served in the Continental Congress. He was appointed Maryland's first U.S. Marshal in 1790, serving until 1798. In 1794 he was appointed U.S. Naval Officer for the Port of Baltimore, serving until 1817. The Monmouth Battle Monument depicts five scenes, one titled "Ramsey Defending His Guns."

Personal

Nathaniel Ramsey was the brother of David Ramsay of South Carolina, who served in the Army during the Revolution and as President of the Continental Congress. He was also the brother-in-law of painter, Charles Willson Peale. 

Death and Burial

Lieutenant Colonel Nathaniel Ramsey died on 23 October 1817 in Baltimore, MD. He is buried at Westminster Burial Ground in Baltimore.