John De Kalb, baron, a general in the American army of the revolution, born in Alsace about 1732, died near Camden, S. C, Aug. 19, 1780. He was trained in the French army, and in 1762 visited the Anglo-American colonies as a secret agent of the French government. He was a brigadier in. the French service when, on Nov. 7, 1776, he made with Franklin and Silas Deane an engagement to serve in the forces of the revolted colonies; and in 1777 he accompanied Lafayette to America. Congress appointed him a major general, Sept. 15, 1777, after which he joined the main army under Washington, and was active in the events near Philadelphia which preceded the encampment at Valley Forge. He served in New Jersey and Maryland till, in April, 1780, he was sent to reenforce Gen. Lincoln, then besieged in Charleston, but arrived too late. He was second in command under Gen. Gates; and in the disastrous battle of Camden, Aug. 16,1780, he was at the head of the Maryland and Delaware troops, who maintained their ground till Cornwallis concentrated his whole force upon them. He fell, pierced with 11 wounds, in the charge upon his regiments before they gave way.

He died at Camden three days afterward, and a monument was erected there to his memory in 1825.