Samuel Miles (March 11, 1740 – December 29, 1805) was an American military officer and politician, active in Pennsylvania before, during, and after the American Revolutionary War.
Born in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, Miles was the son of James Miles and Hannah Pugh. Miles enlisted in Isaac Wayne's company, part of the Pennsylvania militia during the French and Indian War. He was wounded at the Battle of Fort Ligonier; later commanding the garrison at that fort. He was discharged and then reenlisted in Thomas Lloyd's company as a sergeant and was promoted to captain-lieutenant for the expedition to Fort Duquesne. He accepted a commission as captain in 1760 and commanded troops on Presque Isle. After the war ended, he went into business as a wine merchant and married Catherine Wister, daughter of John Wister. He also entered politics, and was elected to the house of assembly in 1772. He was an early advocate for American independence.
Miles raised a militia company in the early days of the American Revolution. When the war began, he was made colonel of the Pennsylvania State Rifle Regiment, a state unit later adopted into the Continental Army. He was taken prisoner by the British at the Battle of Long Island. Miles was released as part of a prisoner exchange in April 1778 that included British Lieutenant Colonel Archibald Campbell. He had been appointed brigadier general of Pennsylvania state troops while a prisoner. Upon his release he served as quartermaster for the State of Pennsylvania serving under Timothy Pickering. In the summer of 1781 General Washington counted on Miles to secure boat transport for the army as it made its way south from New York to Yorktown.
After the war, Miles had a distinguished career as a politician and public servant. He was made judge of the Appeals Court, served as an alderman and mayor of Philadelphia from 1790 to 1791. He was reelected as mayor but declined. He was elected trustee for the University of Pennsylvania, resigning in 1793. He was also a member of American Philosophical Society. The town of Milesburg, Pennsylvania, was laid out by him and is named after him.
As a businessman he created the nation's first sugar refinery. Joining with financier Robert Morris, he helped underwrite the voyage of the ship - The Empress of China - the first American vessel to visit the Chinese mainland.
Miles was very active in the First Baptist Church of Philadelphia.
Miles is also noted as being the first faithless elector, when he was pledged to vote for Federalist presidential candidate John Adams, but voted for Republican candidate Thomas Jefferson. He cast his other presidential vote as pledged for Thomas Pinckney.
As a new member of the Democratic-Republican party he ran for Congress twice (1798) losing to political newcomer Federalist Robert Waln (1765-1836).
His portrait, painted by noted American artist Gilbert Stuart, is housed in the Washington, DC Corcoran Gallery of Art. The portrait of his wife, Catherine Wister Miles, was also completed by Gilbert Stuart.
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| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Benjamin Franklin |
Member, Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania, representing the City of Philadelphia 20 October 1788–20 December 1790 |
Succeeded by position dissolved |
| Preceded by Samuel Powel |
Mayor of Philadelphia 1790–1791 |
Succeeded by John Barclay |
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