author
William Dobein James
1764–1830
Best known for a vivid early account of Francis Marion and his brigade, this South Carolina writer drew on firsthand Revolutionary War experience to tell the story from the inside. His work helped preserve one of the best-known legends of the Southern campaign.
1 Audiobook
A Sketch of the Life of Brig. Gen. Francis Marion and a History of His Brigade
by William Dobein James
About the author
Born in 1764, William Dobein James was a South Carolina writer, militia veteran, and later a judge. Sources connected with his work describe him as having served in Francis Marion’s militia during the Revolutionary War and later becoming one of the associate judges in equity in South Carolina.
He is remembered chiefly for A Sketch of the Life of Brig. Gen. Francis Marion and a History of His Brigade, first published in 1821. The book combines biography, military history, and personal recollection, and it became an important early source on Marion, the famed "Swamp Fox," and the partisan fighting in the South.
James died in 1830. Although many modern editions of his book remain available, a clear, verified portrait image does not appear to be readily available from the pages checked for this overview.