HOPKINS, Samuel, pioneer, born in Albemarle county, Virginia, about 1750; died in Henderson. Ky., in October, 1819. He was an officer in the Continental army, fought with distinction at Princeton, Trenton, Monmouth, and Brandywine, and at the battle of Germantown his battalion of light infantry was nearly annihilated, while he was severely wounded. He was lieutenant-colonel of the 10th Virginia regiment at the siege of Charleston, and after the death of Colonel Richard Parker became its colonel, and served as such till the end of the war. He was made a prisoner, with the other officers, at the surrender of Charleston on 20 May, 1780. While they were conveyed in a British vessel to Virginia he complained to the captain of the harsh treatment and starvation to which they were subjected, and threatened to raise a mutiny on the ship unless they were treated as officers and gentlemen. This bold language secured for the sufferers proper care during the rest of the voyage. In 1797 he settled on Green river in Kentucky, and served for several sessions in the legislature of that state. In October, 1812, he led 2,000 mounted volunteers against the Kickapoo villages on the Illinois river, but the party was misled by the guides, and, after wandering for several days about the prairie, returned against the wishes and commands of the officers. In November he led a band of infantry up the Wabash, and destroyed several deserted villages, but lost a part of his force by an ambuscade. The Indians declined a combat, and he was compelled by the severe cold to return to Vincennes, after destroying a town on Wildcat creek; but immediately afterward the Indians sued for peace. General Hopkins was elected a representative in congress from Kentucky, and took his seat on 26 June, 1813. After the conclusion of his term, which ended on 2 March, 1815, he retired to his farm in Hopkins county, which was named for him.