Before and during the French and Indian War, from about 1650 to 1763, Britain essentially left its American colonies to run themselves in an age of salutary neglect. Given relative freedom to do as they pleased, the North American settlers turned to unique forms of government to match their developing new identity as Americans.
Admiral Sir Thomas Graves KB RN (1747 – 1814), admiral, third son of The Rev. John Graves of Castle Dawson, County Londonderry, by his wife Jane Hudson. He was a nephew of Admiral Samuel Graves and a first cousin once removed of Admiral Thomas, Lord Graves. Graves’ three brothers all served as captains in the…
Samuel Graves was born into a distinguished naval family. he married Elizabeth Sedgwick, daughter of John Sedgwick of Staindrop (County Durham). After Elizabeth’s death in 1767 he married again in 1769, his second wife being Margaret Spinkes, daughter of Elmer Spinkes of Aldwinkle in Northamptonshire, and an elder sister of Elizabeth Simcoe. He had no…
Brunswick Lieutenant Colonel Friedrich Baum (1727–1777) was a Brunswick dragoon Lieutenant Colonel in British service during the American Revolutionary War. Baum served under Major General Friedrich Adolf Riedesel commanding the Dragoon Regiment Prinz Ludwig in support of General John Burgoyne’s 1777 campaign to attack the Lake Champlain-Hudson River corridor, which ended in Burgoyne’s surrender at Saratoga on…
Major Patrick Ferguson (1744 – October 7, 1780) was a Scottish officer in the British Army, early advocate of light infantry and designer of the Ferguson rifle. Patrick Ferguson was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, on May 25 (Old Style)/June 4 (New Style) 1744, the second son and fourth child of advocate James Ferguson of Pitfour (who…
Francis Rawdon-Hastings, 1st Marquess of Hastings KG PC (9 December 1754 – 28 November 1826), styled The Honourable Francis Rawdon from birth until 1762 and as The Lord Rawdon between 1762 and 1783 and known as The Earl of Moira between 1793 and 1816, was a British politician and military officer who served as Governor-General…
General Sir Banastre Tarleton, 1st Baronet, GCB (21 August 1754 – 16 January 1833) was a British soldier and politician. He is today probably best remembered for his military service during the American War of Independence. He became the focal point of a propaganda campaign claiming that he had fired upon surrendering Continental Army troops at…
Admiral Mariot Arbuthnot (1711 – 31 January 1794) was a British admiral, who commanded the Royal Navy’s North American station during the American War for Independence. A native of Weymouth, England, Arbuthnot was the son of Robert Arbuthnot and Sarah, née Bury. The father was the son of the Rev. Robert Arbuthnot, minister of Crichton & Cranston.…
General Sir Archibald Campbell, KB (21 August 1739 – 31 March 1791) was a British Army officer who fought in the Seven Years War, the American Revolutionary War and later served as a colonial governor in Jamaica and Madras. When the revolution came to fruition Campbell was given the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and the duty…
General John Burgoyne (24 February 1722 – 4 August 1792) was a British army officer, politician and dramatist. He first saw action during the Seven Years’ War when he participated in several battles, mostly notably during the Portugal Campaign of 1762. Burgoyne is best known for his role in the American War of Independence. During…
