U.S. Marshal Robert Forsyth (1754 - 1794)

U.S. Marshal Robert Forsyth (1754 - 1794) is a Georgia historical marker in Richmond County, dedicated 2008.

At 605 Reynolds Street in Augusta.

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Robert Forsyth was the first federal law enforcement officer killed in the line of duty. Captain of Light Dragoons in Henry "Light-Horse Harry" Lee's cavalry during the Revolutionary War, Forsyth had been appointed the first marshal for the District of Georgia by President Washington in 1789. Forsyth also served as justice of the peace and as a trustee of Richmond Academy. On January 11, 1794, Forsyth was shot and killed by Beverly Allen while attempting to serve civil court papers. Allen was arrested and escaped twice, finally fleeing to Kentucky. Robert Forsyth, father of Georgia Governor John Forsyth, is buried in St. Paul's cemetery.

Maps this old were drawn largely by eye, so places on them can sit miles from where they really are. The pin is ours and marks the marker's location today.

TodayHistorical map

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David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries

Historical maps covering this location

1778 · Parte Orientale della Florida, della Giorgia, e Carolina Meridionale. Fogl. XI (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
1794 · Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
1795 · State of South Carolina. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
1816 · Georgia. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)

State of South Carolina, 1795, covering the location of U.S. Marshal Robert Forsyth (1754 - 1794), with a pin at the marker's coordinates — State of South Carolina, 1795, covering this location. David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries. The pin is ours, placed from the marker's coordinates.

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This historical marker is part of the Georgia Historical Marker Program and was erected by the Georgia Historical Society. Marker texts and locations come from the Society's own marker database.

More markers nearby

Fort Augusta-Fort Cornwallis: St. Paul's Churchunder 1 mi
Gen. Montgomery C. Meigs, U.S.A.under 1 mi
Emily Harvie Thomas Tubman (1794-1885)under 1 mi
The Mayham Towerunder 1 mi

On the National Register nearby

St. Paul's Episcopal Church250 ft

Places within about 300 feet of this marker that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. A nearby listing is not always the marker's own subject.