Duncan Lamont Clinch

Duncan Lamont Clinch (April 6, 1787 – October 28, 1849) was an American army officer and served as a commander during the First and Second Seminole Wars. He also served in the United States House of Representatives, representing Georgia.

Born in North Carolina, Clinch was a career soldier serving primarily on frontier posts when the First Seminole War broke out in 1816. While commanding forces in southern Georgia, Colonel Clinch was ordered by General Andrew Jackson to attack Seminole positions at Negro Fort, an abandoned British fort along the Apalachicola River which had become a safe haven for escaped slaves, and recover runaway slaves in hiding at the fort.

Supported by gunboats, Clinch's attack on the outpost caused a major incident when an explosion, resulting from naval artillery hitting the fort's powder magazine, resulted in the deaths of hundreds of Seminoles and slaves, contributing to the beginning of the First Seminole War. Clinch would also see service during the Second Seminole War serving with Major Francis L. Dade before his death in 1849 in Macon, Georgia.

Honors
Clinch County, Georgia was named for Clinch.

Fort Clinch (and Fort Clinch State Park) on Amelia Island, Florida is named for Clinch. The Fort is at 2601 Atlantic Avenue, Fernandina Beach, Florida 32034.

Family
His son, Colonel Duncan Lamont Clinch Jr., commanded the 4th Georgia Cavalry CSA during the American Civil War. This unit fought at the Battle of Olustee in Florida, and also in the Atlanta campaign later in 1864. He was also the father-in-law of Robert Anderson (Civil War), commander of Fort Sumter.