Francis Marion (February 26 1732–February 27, 1795) was a lieutenant colonel in the Continental Army and later brigadier general in the South Carolina Militia during the American Revolutionary War. He became known as the "Swamp Fox" because he set up his base of operations in a swamp. His use of guerrilla tactics helped set in motion the decline of open battles in the conflict. Early records indicate that he was a sailor before the Revolutionary War.

Marion is considered one of the fathers of modern guerrilla warfare, and is credited in the lineage of the United States Army Rangers.