John Gibson (Indiana)

John Gibson (May 23, 1740 – 10 April 1822) was the Territorial Secretary of the Indiana Territory. He served twice as acting governor of the territory.

Biography

Gibson was born and raised in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. In 1758, he participated in the Forbes Expedition under General John Forbes against the French at Fort Duquesne and remained at Fort Pitt after the war to engage in trade with Native Americans. He was captured in Pontiac's Rebellion can was condemned to be burnt, but escaped death when he was adopted by an old Indian woman whose son had died in battle. He remained with the Mingo tribe in southwest Virginia for several years and adopted the name Horsehead.Wollen, p. 20] He allegedly married the sister of Chief Logan and also learned their to speak the native language.Woolen, p. 11]

In 1764, after being released he returned to Fort Pitt. In 1774, he participated in Dunmore's War and produced a written translation of Chief Logan's famous speech suing for peace: "I appeal to any white man to say if he ever entered Logan's cabin hungry and he gave him not meat. . . . "Woollen, p. 12]

In the early stages of the American Revolutionary War, Gibson was active in Indian negotiations. He raised a regiment and led it into battle and served in various other regiments of the Virginia Line of the Continental Army, rising to the rank of colonel. Gibson commanded a regiment during the battles in New York and stayed in the theater until after the retreat through the Jerseys. He was then reassigned to command the army on the western front and left in command of forces at Fort Laurens during the harsh winter of 1778–1779, during which the fort was subjected to a siege by British and native forces. After the war he was a judge in Allegheny County, major-general of the militia, and a member of Pennsylvania's constitutional convention in 1790. [Woollen, p. 13]

U.S. President Thomas Jefferson appointed Gibson to be secretary of the Indiana Territory in 1800, despite his being 66 years old. Gibson arrived in the territory in July of that year and took up his duties. Governor William Henry Harrison did not arrive in the territory until January of the next year in which time Gibson served as acting-governor. He became acting-governor again in the summer of 1812 while Harrison was out of the territory. The Indiana Confederacy led by Tecumseh began to make aggressive movements and attacked Fort Harrison, and Gibson called up the militia and organized several regiments. Gibson remained acting governor once war broke out and Harrison led the army against the British and their native allies in the War of 1812. He returned to his secretary's position in May 1813 when Thomas Posey arrived in the territory to assume the governorship. Gibson continued in the office of secretary until Indiana achieved statehood in 1816. [Woollen, pp. 14–15]

After completing his term as government, Gibson returned to private life, briefly remaining in Vincennes. He returned to his family in Pittsburg where he died on April 19, 1822, having suffered from an "incurable cataract". Gibson County, Indiana was named his honor.

References

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*cite book|title=Biographical and Historical Sketches of Early Indiana|year=1975|author=Woollen, William Wesley|publisher=Ayer Publishing|isbn=0405068964|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=PCbZ8rS-84gC