US Congressman, Territorial Governor. The last governor of the Indiana Territory prior to Indiana becoming a state in 1816. Rumors persisted for a long time that Posey was the illegitimate son of George Washington. Certainly his friendship with Washington enhanced his reputation. We know that the young Posey grew up in the household of a John Posey who was a friend of George Washington's and whose indebtedness to Washington ultimately led to John Posey 's turning over his neighboring estate to Washington which became part of Mount Vernon. Posey was twice married 1) Martha Matthews (1754-1778) in 1772 and 2) Mary Alexander (1756-1837) in 1784; and had 12 children of his own plus 3 stepchildren. At age 24 he served as commissary general under General Anthony Lewis when Lewis defeated the Indians under Chief Cornstalk in 1774 at what is now Point Pleasant, West Virginia. He commanded troops as a Major under General Daniel Morgan at Saratoga and at Valley Forge during the Revolutionary War. He was present at the British surrender at Yorktown. He served under "Mad" Anthony Wayne during the Indian wars in the Old Northwest territory, but had resigned his commission before Wayne decisively defeated the Indians at Fallen Timbers. He moved to Henderson, Kentucky, where he held a variety of offices in Kentucky including a term as a member of the State Senate (1805-1806). Later he was a United States Senator from Louisiana (1812-1813) before being appointed governor of the Indiana Territory by President James Madison. He ran for governor in the first State election for governor but lost. Later he ran for congress but lost again. He finished his career as Indian agent for Illinois, where he died at age 67.
US Congressman, Territorial Governor. The last governor of the Indiana Territory prior to Indiana becoming a state in 1816. Rumors persisted for a long time that Posey was the illegitimate son of George Washington. Certainly his friendship with Washington enhanced his reputation. We know that the young Posey grew up in the household of a John Posey who was a friend of George Washington's and whose indebtedness to Washington ultimately led to John Posey 's turning over his neighboring estate to Washington which became part of Mount Vernon. Posey was twice married 1) Martha Matthews (1754-1778) in 1772 and 2) Mary Alexander (1756-1837) in 1784; and had 12 children of his own plus 3 stepchildren. At age 24 he served as commissary general under General Anthony Lewis when Lewis defeated the Indians under Chief Cornstalk in 1774 at what is now Point Pleasant, West Virginia. He commanded troops as a Major under General Daniel Morgan at Saratoga and at Valley Forge during the Revolutionary War. He was present at the British surrender at Yorktown. He served under "Mad" Anthony Wayne during the Indian wars in the Old Northwest territory, but had resigned his commission before Wayne decisively defeated the Indians at Fallen Timbers. He moved to Henderson, Kentucky, where he held a variety of offices in Kentucky including a term as a member of the State Senate (1805-1806). Later he was a United States Senator from Louisiana (1812-1813) before being appointed governor of the Indiana Territory by President James Madison. He ran for governor in the first State election for governor but lost. Later he ran for congress but lost again. He finished his career as Indian agent for Illinois, where he died at age 67.
Bio by: Rick France
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