Biography
Edward Worthington was known as Clark's "Irish Captain,"
...as he was born in County Cork, Ireland in 1754, immigrated with his family to the British colonies in 1768, and eventually settled in Kentucky. He and his father joined the Kentucky militia and served during Lord Dunmore's war against Shawnee and Mingo Native Americans.
When the American Revolution broke out, George Rogers Clark was commissioned by Governor Patrick Henry to raise seven companies, 50 men strong, to capture and hold the Illinois territory from the British, as the British were using Native Americans colonial settlers. Governor Henry "The Hair Buyer" Hamilton was their commander, stationed at Fort Detroit. Only about 175 men were found, and split into four companies. Edward Worthington enlisted as a Lieutenant under Captain John Montgomery.
When Montgomery left the regiment, Worthington took over and marched on Fort Sackville in February 1779, where Governor Hamilton had moved. Hamilton surrendered, and in celebration, Worthington and Major Joseph Bowman fired a shot from the cannon they had taken. An ember from the blast apparently set fire to a store of powder and exploded, injuring Worthington, Bowman, four privates, and one POW. Worthington recovered from his injury, however Bowman's health deteriorated and 6 months later died of his wounds.
Worthington and his men continued to serve in the Illinois territory, establishing Worthington's Fort in Danville, Kentucky, and also at the battle of Piqua in Ohio. His role eventually changed to recruiting duty for the Regiment, and his men put under the command of Robert George, with his artillery unit at Fort Jefferson in present day Wickliffe, Kentucky
The Illinois Regiment was disbanded in 1783 when the war ended. Worthington went back to Kentucky and received 3,234 acres of land as payment for his service. He served as Mercer County's state representative for a few years, and in 1804 pursued the swindler Dan Calaghan to New Orleans in an effort to settle a disputed land deal. It was there that he contracted yellow fever during an epidemic, and perished. His grave site is unknown.
We honor him by representing his unit as historically accurate as possible.