David Cobb Celebrates Victory at Mount Vernon
David Cobb served as an aide-de-camp to General Washington during the Revolutionary War before holding many important positions on the State level, including Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts.
Published 8/25/20 - Updated 12/15/21
David Cobb
David Cobb was a Massachusetts Physician in his late 20’s when the Revolutionary War broke out.
As with many doctors, Cobb joined the State Militia as a regimental surgeon for the first two years of hostilities.
By early 1777, David was selected as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Continental Army, though he stopped to established a smallpox hospital before joining his unit.
Aide-de-Camp
By June of 1781, Cobb had proven himself enough that he was selected as an aide-de-camp for General Washington.
As such, David was one of the select few men who served in Washington’s ‘Family’.
His time as aide-de-camp included the Victory at Yorktown, after which Cobb accompanied the Commander-in-Chief during a brief visit to Mount Vernon where they celebrated the American’s success.
As the war came to a close, he was given a brevet promotion to Brigadier General.
Massachusetts
When he returned to Massachusetts, David Cobb continued to climb in status.
He was chosen as a Major General in the State Militia and appointed as a local judge. Over the years, he would continue to receive higher and higher judicial positions.
Cobb also served in the Massachusetts Assembly, acting as it’s Speaker for four years.
As one of the most powerful States, this position in the government of Massachusetts had an important effect on the young Federal Government.
Lieutenant Governor
In 1793, Cobb was elected to the US House of Representatives.
He served for one term in Congress, the only person ever to represent Massachusetts’ At-Large District.
Afterwards, David moved to Maine (which was still a part of Massachusetts) and was elected to the State Senate, spending four years as President of that body.
The last service of Cobb’s long career was one term as Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts, the second highest office in a State he had spent a lifetime improving.
Do you want to read about a more famous Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts?
You might like some of this story:
Thomas Cushing and the Hutchinson Letters Affair
Interested in other aides-de-camp to General Washington?
‘George Washington’s Indispensable Men’ is the book for you.
Pick up a copy through the Amazon affiliate link below (you’ll support this site, but don’t worry, Amazon pays me while your price stays the same).
Want to get fun American Revolution articles straight to your inbox every morning?
Subscribe to my email list here.
You can also support this site on Patreon by clicking here.
