Nathaniel Ramsey, the son of James and Jane (Montgomery) Ramsay and a brother of David Ramsay, was born on May 1, 1741 in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. His father had emigrated from the North of Ireland and settled in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.
Nathaniel graduated at the College of New Jersey in 1767, studied law.
He practised law in Cecil County, Maryland, where he acquired an estate. He was a delegate to the Maryland Convention in 1775, to the Continental Congress the same year, and on January 14, 1776, he was chosen captain of Smallwood's Maryland regiment. In July 1776 that unit became a part of the Continental Army and on December 10, 1776, Ramsay was commissioned lieutenant-colonel of the 3rd Maryland.
He served throughout the war. In the battle of Long Island the Maryland troops of Smallwood's regiment were especially noted, but Ramsay's chief distinction came at the battle of Monmouth in 1778. In the course of the unexplained retreat in that struggle, so disgracefully started by Gen. Charles Lee, Washington encountered Colonel Stewart and Ramsay - who led a regiment - and ordered them to form and check the retreat.
Tradition adds that the commander-in-chief reinforced the order by a solemn appeal to Ramsay. The latter fulfilled his part, often considered as a decisive one, in the battle, showed in addition great personal gallantry, was wounded and left for dead on the field, and taken captive. He was paroled and exchanged in December 1780. The following month he retired.
From 1785 to 1787 he was again a member of the Continental Congress. In 1790 he was appointed by Washington United States marshal of the district of Maryland. Four years later he was made naval officer of the Baltimore district, and this latter position he held until his death.
He was a member of the Congress of the Confederation.
In person he was unusually tall.
His first wife was Margaret Jane Peale, sister of Charles Willson Peale, who is said to have been a widow when he married her in 1771. She died in 1788 and in 1792 he was married to Charlotte Hall. A son and two daughters of the second marriage survived him.
