Benjamin Cleveland was born in Virginia on May 26, 1803. A resident of Wilkes and Surry Counties, he had a reputation as someone who would fight American Indians on the western frontier. During the American Revolution, he joined the Surry County Regiment of the North Carolina Militia as a captain in 1776. In December 1777 when Wilkes County was formed he became the colonel of the Wilkes County Militia and he led troops most notably at the Battle of Kings Mountain in 1780. After the war Cleveland moved to Oconee County, South Carolina and died there on October 15, 1806.