Armstrong, John, 1717-1795

John Armstrong (October 13, 1717 – March 9, 1795) was an American civil engineer and soldier who served as a brigadier general in the Continental Army and as a major general in the Pennsylvania Militia during the Revolutionary War. He was also a delegate to the Continental Congress for Pennsylvania. Armstrong County, Pennsylvania is named in his honor.

Born in Brookeborough, County Fermanagh, Ireland, Armstrong was educated in Ireland and became a civil engineer before emigrating to Pennsylvania about 1740. Armstrong came to Pennsylvania as a surveyor for the Penn family, the proprietary owners of the colony. In 1750, he laid out the first plat or plan for the town of Carlisle, Pennsylvania, and was one of its first settlers. In 1756, he led the Kittanning Expedition. In 1758, Colonel Armstrong led 2,700 Pennsylvania provincial troops on the Forbes expedition, the approach of which compelled the French to vacate and blow up Fort Duquesne. In the early stages of the American Revolutionary War, Armstrong was a brigadier general in the Pennsylvania militia. In March 1776, the Continental Congress appointed him to that same rank in the Continental Army. Armstrong was granted permission to give up active command in the Continental Army ended in April 1778.

Following his service, Armstrong returned home to Carlisle, where he was elected to the Continental Congress by the Pennsylvania Assembly. As a delegate from 1779 to 1780, he was a strong supporter of George Washington and the army. Armstrong was firm in his support for a new United States Constitution, and was returned to the Congress of the Confederation during its final days in 1787 and 1788. Armstrong died at home in Carlisle, Pennsylvania and is buried in the Old Carlisle Cemetery.