John Stricker

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John Stricker
Brigadier General John Stricker, painted in 1816 by Rembrandt Peale, who also painted George Washington and Thomas Jefferson
Born	(1759-02-15)February 15, 1759 Frederick, Maryland
Died	June 23, 1825(1825-06-23) (aged 66) Baltimore, Maryland
Place of burial	Westminster Hall and Burying Ground Baltimore, Maryland
Allegiance	United States of America Maryland
Service/branch	United States Army Maryland Militia
Years of service	1814
Rank	Brigadier General (United States)
Commands held	Third Bridage, Third Division, Maryland Militia
Battles/wars	War of 1812 Battle of North Point Battle of Baltimore

Brigadier General John Stricker (1758–1825) was a Maryland Militia officer who fought in both the American Revolutionary War and the War of 1812. He commanded the Baltimore brigade of the Maryland Militia in the Battle of North Point on September 12, 1814, which formed a part of the larger Battle of Baltimore, and was a turning point in the War of 1812.

Early life and Revolutionary War

Stricker was born on February 15, 1759, at Frederick, Maryland. He was the son of Colonel George Stricker, who served during the Revolutionary War. The younger Stricker served as a cadet under his father's command, in the 1st Maryland Regiment, commanded by William Smallwood. He was present at the battles of Princeton (January 3, 1777), Brandywine (September 11, 1777), and Monmouth (June 28, 1778).^[1]

Battle of North Point

Painting of the Battle of North Point by Don Troiani, at which the Maryland Militia were able to hold off a British attack long enough to organize the successful defense of the city of Baltimore.

On September 12, 1814, a British force of around 9,000 men was landed at North Point in Maryland, aiming to march upon and capture the city of Baltimore. Stricker, as Brigadier General and commander of the third brigade of the Maryland Militia, was ordered to delay the British advance, in order to buy enough time to complete the building of defensive fortifications around Baltimore.^[2]

The fifth regiment of the Maryland Militia was assigned the task of holding the right flank of the American forces, and withstood two hours of rocket fire and artillery before eventually being ordered to fall back to the newly constructed line of trenches outside Baltimore. The British army, many of whom were veterans of Napoleonic Wars, were surprised by the strong resistance of the Maryland Militia and, having taken around 300 casualties, they withdrew.^[3]

The successful defense of Baltimore was an important boost to American morale and directly contributed to the end of the War of 1812.

Today The First and Second Battalions of the 175th Infantry, Maryland Army National Guard, carry on the tradition of the 5th Maryland Regiment.^[4]

Family life

Grave at Westminster Hall and Burying Ground

Stricker married Martha Bedford (1763–1816), daughter of Gunning Bedford, of Philadelphia, in 1783. They had six daughters and a son:^[5]

Mary (1784–1851)
Catherine (1786–1860)
Ann Eliza (1789–1843)
Julianna (1797-?)
Charlotte (1798–1826)
Laura (1805–1877)
John (1800–1837).

General Stricker is buried at Westminster Hall and Burying Ground in Baltimore.

Later life and death

Notes

External links

Article from the Maryland Online Encyclopedia Retrieved November 2011
Article on the Maryland Militia at the Battle of North Point, at the National Guard website Retrieved November 2011
John Stricker at Find a Grave Retrieved November 2011

Persondata
Name	Stricker, John
Alternative names
Short description	United States general
Date of birth	February 15, 1759
Place of birth	Frederick, Maryland
Date of death	June 23, 1825
Place of death	Baltimore, Maryland

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