Nashville, Tennessee, is globally recognized as Music City, a modern hub of culture, commerce, and entertainment. The origin of its distinctive name is a tribute to the early American frontier spirit and commemorates a Revolutionary War hero. The city’s name is a direct link to the sacrifices made during the nation’s fight for independence, starting with a small, fortified settlement on the Cumberland River.
The Initial Settlement and Fort Nashborough
The first permanent Anglo-American settlement began in 1779, established by two parties of pioneers. One group, led by James Robertson, traveled overland, arriving on the banks of the Cumberland River near present-day downtown Nashville on Christmas Day. A second group, consisting of about sixty families led by John Donelson, arrived a few months later in April 1780 after a difficult journey by water.
These early settlers quickly constructed a log stockade for defense, which they initially called the Bluff Station. The settlement soon adopted the name Fort Nashborough, a designation chosen to honor a figure who had recently gained acclaim. The fort was strategically positioned on a bluff overlooking the river, providing a defensive advantage and access to the vital waterway. This initial name served the community as it struggled to survive on the western frontier of North Carolina.
Honoring General Francis Nash
The namesake for the original fort and the subsequent city was General Francis Nash, a Brigadier General in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. Born in Virginia around 1742, Nash was a lawyer and politician in North Carolina before the conflict began. He was promoted to Brigadier General in 1777, taking command of the North Carolina brigade under General George Washington.
General Nash was mortally wounded on October 4, 1777, at the Battle of Germantown, near Philadelphia. He was struck by a cannonball that passed through his horse and shattered his thigh. Nash succumbed to his injuries three days later, becoming one of the ten Patriot generals to die from combat wounds during the war. The early settlers, many of whom were from North Carolina, chose the name Nashborough to commemorate this significant sacrifice for American independence.
The Formal Naming
The transition from a frontier fort to a formally recognized town occurred a few years after the settlement’s founding. In 1784, the North Carolina General Assembly, which governed the territory, passed an act to officially incorporate the community. This legislative action formally changed the name from the original “Fort Nashborough” to the more concise “Nashville.”
The official naming in 1784 solidified the community’s status and its permanent tribute to the fallen general. This act of the North Carolina legislature was a significant step in the development of the settlement, which later became the capital of Tennessee. The name Nashville has endured for over two centuries, preserving the memory of General Francis Nash and the Revolutionary War era.