biography
| sex:
| male
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| lived:
| (1733–1810)
|
| biography:
| Revolutionary soldier and politician, born in Hingham, Massachusetts, USA. A farmer's son, modestly educated, he took an early interest in militia and public affairs, serving in the Massachusetts legislature (1772–3) and as secretary of the Provincial Congress (1775). In 1777, as a major-general of continental forces, he operated effectively on the flank of the British army in upstate New York, contributing to the American victory at Saratoga. He did not, however, prove a success in a senior independent command. Leading Washington's southern forces, he withdrew his army into Charleston, SC, where he was besieged and surrendered (May 1779). Exchanged later in the year, he fought at Yorktown (1781), served a term as war secretary (1781–3), and led militia forces against Daniel Shays's rebels (1787). He was lieutenant-governor of Massachusetts (1788) and collector of the port of Boston (1789–1809). |
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