John Cadwalader, born in Philadelphia, Jan. 10, 1743, began early
in life to take an active part in public affairs. He was a member
of the Philadelphia Committee of Safety, and captain of a military
organization, half admiringly and half derisively dubbed by the
citizens the “Silk Stocking Company,” nearly every member of which
subsequently held a commission in the patriot army. On the formation
of the city battalions, he was placed in command of one of them. When
Washington, after his retreat through the Jerseys, established himself
on the Pennsylvania side of the Delaware River, opposite Trenton,
Cadwalader, at the head of fifteen hundred militia-men, marched to
his assistance. January, 1777, Washington urged upon Congress the
appointment of Cadwalader to the Continental army, describing him as “a
man of ability, a good disciplinarian, firm in his principles, and of
intrepid bravery.” On the 21st of February, 1777, he was offered the
commission of brigadier-general, but declined, preferring to remain in
the Provincial service. During this year he took part in the battles of
Brandywine and Germantown, and at the request of Washington assisted in
organizing the Maryland Militia.
After the discovery and frustration of the “Conway cabal” and the
consequent disgrace of its author, Cadwalader became cognizant of
some offensive remarks made by Conway concerning Washington, and
called the disparager of the commander-in-chief to account. Conway
refusing to retract, Cadwalader challenged him, and in the duel which
followed, though escaping injury himself, shot Conway in the mouth.
Again in September, 1778, Congress offered him the appointment of
brigadier-general; and again he declined, stating his belief that the
war was almost at an end. When the war was at last ended, he removed to
Maryland, was elected to the State Legislature, and died in Shrewsbury,
Pennsylvania, on the 11th of February, 1786, in the forty-fourth year
of his age.