The New International Encyclopædia/Fish, Nicholas (soldier)

FISH, Nicholas (1758-1833). An American Revolutionary soldier. He was born in New York City, and began the academic course at Princeton, but left before graduating to pursue the study of law in the office of John Morin Scott in New York. There he became actively interested in the organization of the Sons of Liberty (q.v.), and in 1776 was appointed by Scott, who had been commissioned brigadier-general, as aide-de-camp on his staff. At the close of the Revolutionary War he held the rank of lieutenant-colonel. He was a division inspector under Steuben in 1778, and ably seconded that officer in his attempts to drill and discipline the Continental troops. He participated in the battles of Saratoga and Monmouth, in Sullivan's expedition against the Indians in 1779, and in the Virginia and Yorktown campaigns, in which he served for a time on the staff of Lafayette. In 1786 he was appointed Adjutant-General of New York State, which position he held for many years. In 1794 he was appointed by Washington supervisor of the Federal revenue in New York City. In 1811 he was the Federalist candidate for Lieutenant-Governor of the State, and carried New York City by a large majority. During the War of 1812 he served as a member of the City Committee of Defense.