John Francis Hamtramck (April 19, 1798 – c. 1858) was an American military officer and son of the French-Canadian soldier Jean-François Hamtramck, the first American commander of Fort Shelby, Michigan, the fortification at Detroit.[1] The township of Hamtramck, Michigan is named for his father.
Hamtramck's father, General Hamtramck, died in 1803, and William Henry Harrison, the territorial governor, became guardian to Hamtramck's children.
During the War of 1812, John Francis served with Zachary Taylor’s expedition up the Mississippi River. Harrison later placed Hamtramck as a cadet at United States Military Academy in West Point, New York.
Hamtramck was promoted to Colonel and served in the Mexican–American War,[2] where one of his logistics officers was Jubal Early.