Edward Stack

Edward Stack (April 26, 1756 – December 1833) was an officer in the United States Marine Corps during the American Revolutionary War.

Biography Edward Stack was born in Kelad, County Kerry, Ireland. He embarked at Lorient on the Privateer Bonhomme Richard (Captain John Paul Jones) in August 1779.

Lt. Stack remained in United States service until 1780. Later, he returned to France and was appointed to Dillon's Regiment in the Irish Brigade, with whom he accompanied the Marquis de Bouille's expedition to the West Indies and assisted in the reduction of Tobago, St. Kitts, Nevis and Montserrat.

Stack was promoted Captain in 1789 and appointed Chevalier de St. Louis and Chevalier de Cincinnatus d'Amerique by Louis XVI. He was promoted Major in 1791, and Lieut. Colonel in 1793.

The Irish Brigade, then serving in the West Indies, refused to serve under the Committee of Public Safety and transferred to the British Service 1794. At their final reduction in 1798 Lieut. Colonel Stack was placed on half-pay. In 1801 he was promoted Colonel to command the North Lowland Fencible Brigade which was broken up at the Peace of Amiens.

Proceeding on leave of absence to France he was arrested at the declaration of war and confined to the but advanced to Brigadier General whilst in captivity 1803, detected in 1804 executing secret service work for the British government, sentenced to be shot together with Duc d'Enghien, but reprieved at the last moment by the Emperor Napoleon.

He transferred to Verdun in 1806, promoted Major General, 1808, promoted Lieut. General 1813; released by Louis XVIII in 1814 and returned to England, promoted General 1830.

General Stack died at Calais, France, in December 1833. USS Stack (DD-406) was named for him.