Thomas Posey (July 9, 1750 – March 19, 1818) was an officer rising to the rank of Brigadier General in the Continental Army, under commanding General George Washington (1732-1799, commanded 1775-1784), in the American Revolutionary War (1775-1783), a later commissioned lieutenant colonel during peacetime,in the regular United States Army.but involved in the Northwest Indian War (1785-1795).
Life on the frontier was tumultuous, and the Indians' continual raiding led to a reprisal by the Virginia's Royal Governor, Lord Dunmore.
During the war Posey led campaigns against Lord Dunmore who was fortified on Gwyn's Island and drove him and his naval support out of the area.
[8] During the winter of 1776, Posey commanded the pickets guarding the Valley Forge encampment and led skirmishes almost daily.
His small unit was sent to upstate New York to help secure that frontier flank of the Continental Army's Highland Department.
When the Corps of Light Infantry disbanded in December, Posey was sent to join his regiment, but the army surrendered on May 12, 1780, before he could rejoin it.
[12] Posey briefly returned to the military following several setbacks to the army which was campaigning against the Wabash Confederacy in the Old Northwest.
Years after Wilkinson's death, it was discovered that he had been accepting bribery money from Spain to stir up trouble on the frontier.
Because of the ill feelings caused by Wilkinson, Posey resigned from the army again on February 20, 1794, only a few months before the war was ended following American victory at the Battle of Fallen Timbers.
[15] In 1802, Posey received 7,000 acres (2,800 ha) in reward for his military service, and he was given several options of land tracts in the western United States.
His prestige made him immediately popular in the area and he was elected to the Kentucky State Senate, beginning a term on November 10, 1804, and became the body's speaker.
The assembly was unhappy with Posey's appointment, hoping to have instead received a northern governor who was opposed to slavery and more agreeable to the prevailing mood of the territory.
[20] Posey disliked the small capitol, and because of his poor health he wanted to be closer to a physician in Louisville, Kentucky.
During the middle of the first General Assembly session, Posey moved to Jeffersonville where he remained for the duration of his tenure, and from there conducted the office of governor.
[21] The legislature was offended by his absence, which they portrayed as a continuation of the previous governor's alleged aristocratic tendencies and issued a resolution that rebuked him for leaving.
Posey presided over the assembly which ultimately divided the territory into three judicial districts and appointed several judges.
[22] The legislature was pleased to find that Posey's appointments to public office were not overly partisan, and were happy with his approval of road construction and the framework he created for basic educational facilities.
[19] A key election issue causing the dislike of Posey was that he was in favor of slavery in Indiana, which much of the legislature, Dennis Pennington, and Jonathan Jennings opposed.
[19][23][24] In the last two years of his life, he served as an Indian agent in Illinois, negotiating treaties with the Wea, Kickapoo, and Pottawatomie.