Christian Febiger was an American Revolutionary War commander, confidante of General George Washington and an original member of the Society of the Cincinnati. Known by the moniker "Old Denmark", Febiger also served as Treasurer of Pennsylvania from November 13, 1789 until his death.
Background
Christian Febiger was born on the island of Fiinen, Denmark. He was the son of organist Jorgen Mathiasen Fibiger (1705-1776) and Sophie Dorthea Pedersdatter Ostrup (1718-1781). After receiving the Studentereksamen, he journeyed with his uncle, Henrik Jakob Fibiger, somewhere in the late 1760s, to the Danish possession of St. Croix, where the latter had been appointed Customs Duty Manager. In 1772 Febiger traveled to the American colonies (possibly New England) and was engaged in several businesses when the American Revolution started. Febiger joined with the Massachusetts Militia on 28 April 1775 following the Lexington Alarm where he fell under the command of Col. Samuel Gerrish and soon became adjutant.
Education
He attended a military school and while still a youth joined the staff of his uncle, who was governor of the island of Santa Cruz, in the West Indies.
Career
In 1772 he made a tour of the American colonies from Cape Fear to the Penobscot and engaged in the “lumber, fish and horse trade. ”
Lexington found him domiciled in Massachusetts and ten days later he joined Collonel Samuel Gerrish’s Essex and Middlesex militia regiment.
He was promoted adjutant and rendered “valuable service” at the battle of Bunker Hill.
He served as Benedict Arnold’s brigade-major during the invasion of Canada and was taken prisoner at the assault on Quebec, December 1775.
Exchanged in January 1777, he was immediately commissioned lieutenant-colonel Daniel Morgan’s of Virginia regiment, Continental line.
He was promoted colonel after the battle of Brandywine (September 1777) and took part in the battles of Germantown (October 1777) and Monmouth (June 1778).
In July 1779 he was chosen by Washington to command one of the four light infantry regiments organized for the storming of Stony Point.
On July 15 General Wayne and Cols.
Febiger and Butler made a final reconnaissance and during the night took the fortress by assault.
For his share in the triumph Febiger received Wayne’s commendation.
General Muhlenberg stationed Febiger at Philadelphia in August 1780 with orders to forward arms and clothing to Richmond, where Muhlenberg was hastily assembling troops and equipment for General Gates.
In November, General Greene, who had taken over the command in the South, ordered Febiger to remain in Philadelphia as agent for obtaining and forwarding stores to the southern army.
In this service “Old Denmark” displayed great talent for procuring supplies from the quartermaster-general and the Board of War.
Returning to Virginia, he aided Morgan in suppressing the Loyalist insurrection in Hampshire County (May-June, 1781), served as recruiting officer, and commanded a body of Virginia recruits in Lafayette’s army.
In the fall of 1781 he wrote to Washington describing himself as “Superintending officer of the Virginia line. ”
Achievements
Connections
He married Elizabeth Carson, daughter of a Philadelphia merchant.