MARKOE, Abram, capitalist, born in the Danish West Indies in 1721); died in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 28 August, 1806. He was a descendant of Count Marco, a leader among the Huguenots, who became a planter in Santa Cruz. He emigrated to Philadelphia in early manhood. His family was largely interested in the sugar business, and he with his brothers was engaged in that enterprise in the island of Santa Cruz, Wisconsin, trading between that place and this country. In 1774 he was active in organizing the light horse troop of Philadelphia, since known as the "city troop," and was chosen its first captain, remaining in command until the spring of 1776, when the neutrality edict of Christian VII., of Denmark, forced him to resign his captaincy. In the summer of 1775 he presented the troop with a flag which has historic interest as being the first that bore the thirteen stripes symbolizing the thirteen colonies that were then asserting their rights. He was the owner of large landed interests in Philadelphia, notably a block of ground where now stand the new United States government buildings, on which he erected the building that was intended for the executive mansion of the president of the United States, and which was in 1800 sold to the University of Pennsylvania.--His son, Peter, poet, died in Santa Cruz, Wisconsin, about 1753; died in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, about 1792, was educated at Trinity college. Dublin, read law in London, and, returning to Philadelphia about 1783, devoted himself to literary pursuits. He wrote under the pen-name of "A Native of Algiers," and published a tragedy entitled "The Patriot Chief" (Philadelphia, 1783);" Miscellaneous Poems" (1787) ; a poem called" The Times" (1788) ; and "Reconciliation," a comic opera (1790).