MARION, marl-On, Francis, American soldier: b. near Georgetown, S. C., in 1732; d. Pond Bluff, 27 Feb. 1795. He was the youngest in a family of six children. His grandfather, Benjamin Marion, was a Huguenot exiled from France in 1690. At 16 Francis showed his ad venturous disposition by embarking on a small vessel bound for the West Indies. It was wrecked and he barely escaped death by starva tion. He returned home and worked several years on a farm. In 1760-61 he served in cam paigns against the Cherokees. Thenceforth until 1775 he lived on his plantation at Pond Bluff in the parish of Saint John.
In 1775 Marion was elected member from Saint John in the South Carolina provincial congress, which adopted the bill of rights and voted money for raising troops. He was chosen captain (21 June 1775) and took the field against the British and the Tories. He took part in the capture of Fort Johnson (14 Sept. 1775), and because of his ability in organizing and discipline was promoted to major. He par ticipated in the patriot victory (28 June 1776) at Charleston, which gave the Southern States respite from active fighting for nearly three years. Appointed lieutenant-colonel, he led his regiment in the unsuccessful attack on Savan nah (September 1779). In 1780 Marion, now a brigadier-general, was obliged to take refuge in forest and swamp. Beginning with a handful of men, less than 20, he gathered recruits, fear less riders and good marksmen, who formed the famed °Marion's brigade.° At times they numbered several hundred. They came and went at their leader's bidding, providing their own equipment and rations. Part of the time they were at work on their farms, planting crops. These rough and ready troopers became the terror of the British regulars and the Tories, although in justice to Marion's men it should be said that they committed no acts of wanton cruelty and burned no buildings on Tory home steads. The stories of his adventures read more
like fiction than history. His scouts kept close watch of the enemy's movements; and detach ments of the brigade struck blow after blow, surprising and capturing small parties of soldiers. At times they united with larger bodies of troops for important engagements. After a vain pursuit, Tarleton named Marion the °Swamp Fox.° Failing in his attempt against Georgetown (December 1780), he re tired to Swan Island and •prepared for a sec ond attack (13 Jan. 1781), which was also un successful. Then he joined with Col. Henry Lee in reducing Fort Watson (April 1781). After raiding 200 miles of country he com manded the first line in the battle of Eutaw Springs and took many prisoners. For his gal lantry in this engagement he received the thanks of Congress. From 1782 to 1790 Marion served in the State senate and was a member of the State Constitutional Convention in 1790. He opposed harsh treatment of the Tories and con demned the Confiscation Act of 1782. In 1784 he married a wealthy lady, Mary Videau, who survived him with no children. He was a man of attractive personality. Of slight figure, he was capable of great endurance and accustomed to abstinence. As a leader he was admired and beloved. He justly ranks among the heroes of the Revolution. Consult Biography by Horry and Weems (1815); Simms, of Francis Marion' (1844); Tarleton, 'History of the Campaigns of 1780-1781> (1787).