George Croghan (soldier)

George Croghan (15 November 1791 – 8 January 1849) was born at the Locust Grove farm in what is now Louisville, Kentucky and died in New Orleans, Louisiana. He was a recipient of the Congressional Gold Medal.

He was a relative of both William Clark and George Rogers Clark because his mother, Lucy Clark, was their sister. His father was William Croghan of Dublin, Ireland. His wife Serena Livingston was the granddaughter of Robert Livingston (1718-1775) of Clermont Manor New York.

Croghan studied at the College of William and Mary and joined the army after he graduated in 1810. He fought at the Battle of Tippecanoe in 1811. For his defense during the Battle of Fort Stephenson, Ohio during the War of 1812, he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel. He later led a troop that was defeated in the Battle of Mackinac Island.

Following the war, he resigned from the army during a reduction in force and served as a postmaster in New Orleans. Later he became an inspector general in the army. During the Mexican-American War he fought as a colonel at Monterrey.

Croghan died in the cholera epidemic of 1849, which also took the life of former President of the United States James K. Polk. Colonel Croghan is buried at the site of Fort Stephenson, now Fremont, Ohio.

The village and town of Croghan, New York are named after him.