Red Lion Inn: Washington’s 1779 Court‑Martial to Library

By Published On: April 22, 2025Categories: Revolutionary War & Early American Republic (1775–1800)1.1 min read

Nestled at 11 South Broad Street in old Elizabethtown (now Elizabeth, NJ), Samuel Smith’s Red Lion Inn witnessed key moments in our nation’s birth and rebirth:

Revolutionary Roots (1779–1780)

  • 5 March 1779
    General Washington’s orders called the Continental Army Court‑Martial, presided over by Colonel Williams, to reconvene at the Red Lion Inn on 8 March during the Middlebrook winter encampment.

  • 25 January 1780
    While British forces razed nearby buildings in Elizabethtown, the Red Lion Inn alone escaped destruction—standing as a rare survivor of that raid.

Presidential Breakfast (1789)

  • 23 April 1789
    En route to Canvas Hall and then to New York for his inauguration, President‑elect George Washington breakfasted at the Inn—cementing its place in the first chapter of our presidential history.

From Tavern to Library (1912)

  • Over a century later, the historic tavern gave way to civic ambition. With funding from Andrew Carnegie, city leaders demolished the old structure and, in 1912, unveiled the Elizabeth Public Library on the same site.

  • Today, a bronze marker at the library entrance honors Smith’s 18th‑century inn.

Visit & Explore

  • Address: 11 South Broad Street, Elizabeth, NJ

  • Historic Marker: Look for the Red Lion Inn plaque at the library steps

References

  • “General Orders, 5 March 1779,” Founders Online, NARA

  • “Elizabeth Public Library,” Visit Elizabeth NJ

  • “Historic Red Lion Inn,” RevolutionaryWarNewJersey.com

  • Chase & Ferraro, The Papers of George Washington, RWS vol. 19 (2009), p. 365

  • “Samuel Smith,” WikiTree

Upcoming Events

Recent Posts