John Coffee

John R. Coffee (June 2, 1772–July 7, 1833) was an American planter and military leader.

Biography

Born in Prince Edward County, Virginia, Coffee was a merchant and then a partner in land speculation with Andrew Jackson. Coffee married Mary Donelson, a relative of Jackson's wife, Rachel, in October 1809.

At the beginning of the War of 1812, Coffee raised the 2nd Regiment of Volunteer Mounted Riflemen, composed mostly of Tennessee militiamen (and a few Alabamians). On September 4, 1813 he was involved in the Andrew Jackson-Benton Brothers duel in Nashville, knocking Thomas Benton down a flight of stairs after he had shot Jackson. In October 1813, the 2nd was combined with Col. Cannon's Mounted Regiment and the 1st Regiment of Volunteer Mounted Gunmen to form a militia brigade of mounted infantry, and Coffee was promoted to brigadier-general and placed in command. Under Jackson's command, he led his brigade at most of the battles of the Creek War: the Battle of Tallushatchee, the Battle of Talladega, and the Battles of Emuckfaw and Enotachopo Creek, where he was seriously wounded, and the Battle of Horseshoe Bend. He then led his brigade, which consisted largely of Indians and freed blacks at the Battle of New Orleans, where they played a key role in holding the woods to the east of the redcoats' column and being the first to engage the British, firing from behind the trees and brush.

After the war and some failed investments, he began work as a surveyor, laying down the town of Florence, Alabama, and in 1816 he surveyed the boundary line between Alabama and Mississippi.

He later moved to and died near Florence, Alabama.

Coffee County, Alabama, Coffeeville, Alabama, Coffeeville, Mississippi and Coffee County, Tennessee are named in his honor.

Note: Researchers often confuse this General John R. Coffee with General John E. Coffee the U.S. Congressman from Georgia. John R., also known as "Tennessee John" and John E. were first cousins. The Find-a-Grave info below is for General John E. Coffee, General John R. Coffee is buried in the Coffee Cemetery off SR 157 northwest of Florence, Alabama.

External links

* [http://www.rootsweb.com/~allauder/cem-coffee-John.htm Coffee Cemetery, Florence Alabama]
* [http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=7988605 Find-A-Grave profile for John E. Coffee]
* [http://www.adena.com/adena/usa/hs/hs23.htm Jackson-Benton Duel]