The Life of General Francis Marion

by M.L. Weems, Peter Horry

Mason Locke Weems (1756-1825), generally known as Parson Weems, was an American printer and author. He is best known as the source of some of the apocryphal stories about George Washington, including the famous tale of the cherry tree (I cannot tell a lie, I did it with my little hatchet). The Life of Washington (1800), Weems' most famous work, contained the story. He studied theology in London and was ordained in the Protestant Episcopal Church in 1784. Financial hardship forced Weems to seek other employment, leading to his second career as a book agent and author. He had a small bookstore in Dumfries, Virginia that now houses the Weems-Botts Museum. Other notable works by Weems include The Life of General Francis Marion (with Peter Horry) (1805), The Life of Benjamin Franklin, With Essays (1817), and The Life of William Penn (1819). He was also an accomplished violinist.

Genres: History, Biography, American Revolution

228 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1809

About the author

Mason Locke Weems, more commonly known as Parson Weems, was an American book agent and author best known for his biography of President George Washington, with its most-likely apocryphal tale of chopping down the cherry tree.

Reviews

[Christian · Rating 4 out of 5]

While highly embellished and of doubtful historicity* -- the co-author concocted the George Washington 'Cherry Tree' myth -- it still provides valuable insight into the infighting that took place in the Carolina backcountry.

*Just like "The Patriot"

[Washington Centerville Public Library · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was disppointed in this supposed biography of Marion. There's some good information here, but most of the book is about the exploits of the author himself. I'll be picking up The Swamp Fox by Robert Bass instead.

[Elizabeth Raines · Rating 2 out of 5]

The title of this book is misleading, if you want a biography on General Francis Marion this is not it. However, if you want a book on what it was like to be a soldier in the Carolinas in the Revolution this is it. I am not taking everything from this book as being one hundred percent accurate. Horry, the author, was a peer of Marion. It seems he idolized the man so the views of this book can be biased because of that. Also, there was a lot of dialogue quoted in the book and I highly doubt that it is accurate because how can one remember every word of a conversation twenty years ago. Still, coming from a peer it is interesting and as this book takes place in the area that I called home it was interesting to see what was happening in certain towns almost three hundred years ago.

[Marguerite Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great for research about the American Revolution and Francis Marion.

[Jim · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was hoping for more information on Marion and his battle with the British
and Tory's.

[Susan J Benna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting Presentation

The book is an interesting perspective of the life of Francis Marion. You obtain an insider’s view of what the great General’s personality might be.