John Gano (July 22, 1727– August 10, 1804) was an American Baptist minister, soldier, patriot, and military chaplain who allegedly baptized his friend, George Washington.
After a powerful conversion experience, John Gano eventually became a Calvinist Baptist as a young man after a period of intense study.
Gano served as pastor of the New York Church until 1787, however, he made long itinerant trips evangelizing throughout the thirteen colonies, asserting I... had a right to proclaim free grace wherever I went.
[6] Gano travelled throughout the South, Middle Atlantic States, and New England, sometimes being away from home for as long as two years.
He wrote in his memoirs saying "My station in time of action I knew to be with the surgeons, but in this battle I somehow got in the front of the regiment, yet I durst not quit my place for fear of dampening the spirits of the soldiers or of bringing on myself the imputation of cowardice.
[2][10][3] On December 26, 1776, Gano participated in George Washington's famous crossing of the Delaware River and was also present at the Battle of Trenton that followed.
[11] In the Chaplains and Clergy of the Revolution it states "He (Gano) crossed the Wintry Delaware with the army when it made its fearful midnight march on Trenton, and shared in the dangers of the battle that followed".
[15] Gano was chosen by General Washington to say a prayer marking the official end of the American Revolutionary War in 1783.
On May 1, 1784, Gano was elected to the Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York alongside John Jay and Alexander Hamilton.
Daniel Gano (November 11, 1758 - April 1849), attended Brown University at age 17 but left and joined the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War.
John Stites Gano (July 14, 1766 - January 1, 1822), became a Major General of the First Division of Ohio Militia in 1804.
"[22][23] His son was Aaron Goforth Gano, one of the earliest graduates of the United States Military Academy in the class of 1818.
Margaret and Lewis were the parents of William Price Sanders, a West Point graduate of the class of 1856.
Lewis Sanders and Margaret Price also had a daughter who married millionaire James Ben Ali Haggin[30] 10.
The Wright brothers Orville and Wilbur, who invented the first successful airplane were Gano's 3rd great nephews through his sister Susannah.
Dr. William Grady in his book What Hath God Wrought: A Biblical Interpretation of American history believes the account to be authentic.
Washington's church, Anglican, believed in infant baptism and his christening is recorded as taking place on April 5, 1732, about six weeks after he was born.