Dromo's Den

 

[Up] [Dromo's Den]

Isaac Shelby Biography

Isaac Shelby Image

SHELBY, Isaac (1750-1826). An American soldier, first Governor of Kentucky, born near Hagerstown, Md. At 20 he was elected deputy sheriff of Frederick Co., Md., but in 1771 removed to the site of the present Bristol, Tenn., and in 1774 served as lieutenant at the battle of Point Pleasant. In 1776, during the Revolution, he became a captain of a Virginia force, in 1780 was colonel in the North Carolina militia, and won distinction at the battle of King's Mountain. He served in the Southern campaign under General Greene. Settling in the Kentucky region in 1783, he was instrumental in effecting its separation from Virginia, sat in the State Constitutional Convention, and was the first Governor (1792-96), serving a second term from 1812 to 1816. With 4000 Kentucky volunteers he joined General Harrison early in 1812 and rendered great service at the battle of the Thames (q.v.).

The New International Encyclopaedia, Vol. XX (New York: Dodd, Mead & Co., 1920) 808.