STEELE, John, soldier, born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, 15 August, 1758; died in Philadelphia, 27 February, 1827. He was educated for a Presbyterian clergyman, but on the breaking out of the war of the Revolution entered the army, in which he rose to the command of a company, 23 March, 1779. He was seriously wounded at the battle of the Brandywine, and retired from the service, 1 January, 1783. In 1801 he was elected state senator, but, as he held a United States appointment, his seat was declared vacant. In 1804 he was re-elected, and in 1805 became speaker of that body. In 1806 he was the Democratic candidate for United States senator, but was defeated by Andrew Gregg. He served as one of the commissioners to adjust the damages sustained by the Wyoming sufferers at the hands of the Indians. In 1808 President Jefferson appointed him collector of the port of Philadelphia, which post he filled during the remainder of his life. He also held the rank of brigadier-general in the Pennsylvania militia.--His brother, ARCHIBALD (1741--1832), was adjutant at the siege of Quebec under Arnold, afterward deputy quarter-master-general, and at the time of his death was military store-keeper at Philadelphia.--His cousin, James, soldier, born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, 16 January, 1765; died at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, 30 September, 1845, received a classical education, and was a man of considerable enterprise. He erected a paper-mill on Octorara creek, and subsequently two cotton-mills. He served in the war of 1812-'14, and for meritorious conduct was promoted to the rank of brigadier-general of militia. Late in life he retired from business and removed to Harrisburg, where he died. His son, Francis B. Steele, was military store-keeper at the Falls of St. Anthony, Minnesota, for a long period.