On this Day: Margaret Corbin’s Birthday
November 12, 2027
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On this Day: Margaret Corbin’s Birthday – November 12, 1751
Margaret Cochran Corbin was born on November 12, 1751, in Franklin County, Pennsylvania.
Orphaned at the age of five after her father was killed in an Indian raid and her mother was captured, Margaret faced hardships early in life. In 1772, she married John Corbin, a farmer from Virginia, and in 1776, when John enlisted in the Pennsylvania artillery during the American Revolutionary War, Margaret accompanied him to the front lines.
After John was killed in battle, Margaret bravely took over his position manning a cannon, earning the nickname “Captain Molly.” Her heroic actions led to a pension from the U.S. government, recognizing her service as one of the first women to serve in combat. Margaret passed away on January 16, 1800, in Highland Falls, New York, and her legacy endures as a symbol of courage and patriotism in American history.