The Biographical Dictionary of America/Barber, Francis

BARBER, Francis, soldier, was born at Princeton. N. J., in 1751. He was graduated from Princeton college in 1767, and two years later accepted the position of principal of the Elizabethtown (N. J.) academy. He joined the revolutionary army in 1776 with the rank of major of artillery, and received promotion first to lieutenant-colonel, and later to assistant inspector-general, serving under Baron Steuben. He was present at many important battles, including Trenton, Princeton, Brandywine and Germantown, receiving serious wounds at Monmouth. He was taken to a hospital, and while convalescent succeeded in gaining important information which was exceedingly useful to the patriots. In 1779 he was promoted adjutant-general, and the following year was appointed by General Washington to levy stores in New Jersey. The following year when insurrection broke out in some of the troops he was sent to subdue the soldiers, accomplishing the task with tact and success. He was present at several engagements in Lafayette's Virginia campaign in 1781, notably at Yorktown, serving efficiently throughout the war. He died in Newburg, N. Y., Feb. 11, 1783.