HAND, Edward, soldier, born in Clyduff, King's County, Ireland, 31 December, 1744; died in Rockford, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, 3 September, 1802. In 1774 he accompanied the 18th Royal Irish regiment to this country as surgeon's mate, but resigned and settled in Pennsylvania in the practice of medicine. At the beginning of the Revolution he joined General William Thompson's brigade as lieutenant-colonel, and served at the siege of Boston. He was promoted colonel in 1776, engaged in the battles of Long Island and Trenton, and was appointed brigadier-general in 1777. He succeeded General John Stark in command at Albany in 1778, and soon afterward served with General John Sullivan in his expedition against the Indians of the Six Nations in central New York. The command of one of the two brigades of the light-infantry corps was assigned him in August, 1780, and near the close of the war he succeeded Alexander Scammell as adjutant-general. He was a member of congress in 1784-'5, a signer of the Pennsylvania constitution of 1790, and occupied many local offices of public trust. In 1798, in anticipation of a war with France, General Washington recommended General Hand's appointment as adjutant-general. He was of fine and manly appearance, and distinguished in the army for his fine horsemanship. Although he was of a daring disposition, he won the affection of his troops by his amiability and gentleness.