Joseph Dickson

Joseph Dickson (April 1745 – April 14, 1825) was an American politician and soldier who represented North Carolina's 1st district in the United States House of Representatives from 1799 to 1801, and would later serve in the Tennessee House of Representatives.

For other people named Joseph Dickson, see Joseph Dickson (disambiguation).
Joseph Dickson
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from North Carolina's 1st district
In office
March 4, 1799 – March 3, 1801
Preceded byJoseph McDowell, Jr.
Succeeded byJames Holland
Speaker of the Tennessee House of Representatives
In office
1809–1811
Preceded byJohn Tipton
Succeeded byJohn Cocke
Member of the North Carolina Senate
In office
1788-1795
Personal details
BornApril 1745 (1745-04)
Chester County, Province of Pennsylvania, British America
DiedApril 14, 1825(1825-04-14) (aged 79–80)
Rutherford County, Tennessee, U.S.
Political partyFederalist
Spouse(s)Margaret McEwen
ChildrenRobert Dickson, Elizabeth Dickson, John Dickson, Joseph Dickson Jr., William Dickson, Margaret Dickson, Ezekiel Dickson, Isabella Dickson, James L. Dickson
Military career
AllegianceUnited States of America
Service/branchNorth Carolina militia
Years of service1775-1783
RankColonel during war, Brigadier General after the war
UnitRowan County Regiment, 1st Battalion of Volunteers, Lincoln County Regiment, North Carolina State Cavalry-Western District
Commands heldLincoln County Regiment

He was born in Chester County in the Province of Pennsylvania, though eventually moved with his parents to Rowan County in the Province of North Carolina. He was engaged in cotton and tobacco planting.[1][2]

Military service

Service record:[3]

  • Captain in the Rowan County Regiment of the North Carolina militia (1775)
  • Captain in the 1st Rowan County Regiment of militia (1775-1776)
  • Captain in the 1st Battalion of Volunteers (1776)
  • Major in the Lincoln County Regiment of the North Carolina militia (1779-1780)
  • Major in the North Carolina State Cavalry-Western District of the North Carolina state troops (1780)
  • Colonel over the Lincoln County Regiment of the North Carolina militia (1781-1783)
  • Brigadier General, after the Revolutionary War[2]

He was commissioned Colonel over the Lincoln County Regiment of the North Carolina militia under Colonel Charles McDowell of the Morgan District Brigade in 1781. He was at the Battle of Kings Mountain as major of the Lincoln County Regiment. He led his regiment in the Battle of Haw River on February 25, 1781.[3]

Civilian service

Before the Revolutionary War, he was a member of Rowan County Committee of Safety. Dickson was elected clerk of the Lincoln County Court in 1781, and was a member of the North Carolina Senate from 1788 to 1795. During this time, he was appointed to the commission to establish the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He was elected as a Federalist to the Sixth Congress in 1798, representing North Carolina's 1st district.[1][2]

Dickson moved to Tennessee in 1803 and settled in that portion of Davidson County which subsequently became Rutherford County. He was a member of the Tennessee House of Representatives from 1807 to 1811, serving as speaker the last two years.[1][2]

Family

He was married to Margaret McEwen, daughter of James McEwen and Isabella Miller. He died in Rutherford County, Tennessee and is interred on his plantation northeast of Murfreesboro, Tennessee at the Boyd Cemetery, Compton, Rutherford County, Tennessee.[1][4]

References
  1. "Biographical entry from the US Congress directory". Retrieved March 20, 2019.
  2. "North Carolina Historical Marker O-47". Retrieved March 20, 2019.
  3. Lewis, J.D. "The American Revolution in North Carolina, Joseph Dickson". Retrieved March 20, 2019.
  4. Find a Grave photo of tombstone, Memorial No 22307382
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by
Joseph McDowell, Jr.		 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from North Carolina's 1st congressional district
1799–1801		 Succeeded by
James Holland
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