George Washington- (1732-99) was commander in chief of the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War (1775-83) and served two terms as the first U.S. president, from 1789 to 1797. The son of a prosperous planter, Washington was raised in colonial Virginia. As a young man, he worked as a surveyor then fought in the French and Indian War (1754-63). During the American Revolution, he led the colonial forces to victory over the British and became a national hero. In 1787, he was elected president of the convention that wrote the U.S. Constitution. Two years later, Washington became America's first president. Realizing that the way he handled the job would impact how future presidents approached the position, he handed down a legacy of strength, integrity and national purpose. Less than three years after leaving office, he died at his Virginia plantation, Mount Vernon, at age 67.
Richard Montgomery- was born in Ireland on December 2, 1738. The son a British officer and member of the Irish Parliament, Montgomery received an outstanding education at a school outside of Belfast. Moving to Dublin, he entered Trinity College in 1754. Though a gifted student, Montgomery did not complete his degree as his father encouraged him seek a military career. Acquiescing, Montgomery accepted a commission as an ensign in the 17th Regiment of Foot on September 21, 1756 and prepared to take part in the French and Indian WAr.
Benedict Arnold- was born on January 14, 1741 in Norwich, Connecticut. Arnold was one of a number of Benedict Arnolds including an early governor of Rhode Island and his father. Arnold's mother was Hannah Waterman King, a wealthy widow, before her marriage to the elder Arnold. The family fortunes were well for a while, however some poor business deals caused some financial problems for the family. Arnold's father turned to the local taverns for solace. Arnold attended school at Canterbury. While there, some of his siblings died from the Yellow Fever.
Horiato Gates-Born July 26, 1727 in London, Horatio Gates was the son of Robert and Dorothea Gates. While his father worked in the Customs Service, Gates' mother held the post of housekeeper for the third Duke of Bolton. This position allowed her a degree of influence and patronage. As a result, she was able to have Horace Walpole serve as her son's godfather. In 1745, Gates decided to seek a military career. With assistance from Bolton, he was able to obtain a lieutenant's commission in the 20th Regiment of Foot. Serving in Germany during the War of the Austrian Succession, Gates quickly proved to be a skilled staff officer and later served as regimental adjutant. With the end of the conflict, Gates found himself unemployed when his regiment was disbanded. In 1749, he secured an appointment as aide-de-camp to Colonel Edward Cornwallis and traveled to Nova Scotia.
Thomas Gage- The second son of the 1st Viscount Gage, Thomas Gage was born at Firle, England in 1719. Sent to the Westminster School, Gage became friends with John Burgoyne, Richard Howe and the future Lord George Germain. Departing school, Gage joined the British Army as an ensign, before purchasing a commission as a lieutenant in the 1st Northampton Regiment on January 30, 1741. The following year he transferred to Battereau's Foot Regiment. In 1743, Gage was promoted to captain and joined the Earl of Albemarle's staff as an aide-de-camp.
William Howe- William Howe was born August 10, 1729, and was the third son of Emanuel Howe, 2nd Viscount Howe and his wife Charlotte. His grandmother had been the mistress of King George I and as a result Howe and his three brothers were the illegitimate uncles of King George III. Attending Eton, Howe followed his two elder brothers into the military on September 18, 1746 when he purchased a commission as a coronet in Cumberland's Light Dragoons. A quick study, he was promoted to lieutenant the following year and captain in 1750. While with the regiment, he befriended Major Wolfe, one of his future commanders.
John Burgoyne-was born 1722, in Sutton, England. Burgoyne was defeated by superior American forces in the Saratoga (New York) campaign of 1777, during the American Revolution. Exhausting his food and ammunition and receiving no aid, he had to surrender to Gates north of Saratoga Springs on October 17, 1777. Paroled along with his troops, he returned to England, where he faced severe criticism.
Charles Cornwallis- was born at Grosvenor Square, London, on New Year’s Eve in 1738. The eldest son of Charles, 1st Earl Cornwallis, and Elizabeth Townshend, he received his early education at Eton. Eager to begin a military career, Cornwallis purchased a commission as an ensign in the 1st Foot Guards on December 8, 1757, and attended the military academy at Turin, Italy. Taking his rightful place among the peerage of the ruling class, he became a Member of Parliament, entering the House of Commons for the village of Eye in Kent in January 1760.
Richard Montgomery- was born in Ireland on December 2, 1738. The son a British officer and member of the Irish Parliament, Montgomery received an outstanding education at a school outside of Belfast. Moving to Dublin, he entered Trinity College in 1754. Though a gifted student, Montgomery did not complete his degree as his father encouraged him seek a military career. Acquiescing, Montgomery accepted a commission as an ensign in the 17th Regiment of Foot on September 21, 1756 and prepared to take part in the French and Indian WAr.
Benedict Arnold- was born on January 14, 1741 in Norwich, Connecticut. Arnold was one of a number of Benedict Arnolds including an early governor of Rhode Island and his father. Arnold's mother was Hannah Waterman King, a wealthy widow, before her marriage to the elder Arnold. The family fortunes were well for a while, however some poor business deals caused some financial problems for the family. Arnold's father turned to the local taverns for solace. Arnold attended school at Canterbury. While there, some of his siblings died from the Yellow Fever.
Horiato Gates-Born July 26, 1727 in London, Horatio Gates was the son of Robert and Dorothea Gates. While his father worked in the Customs Service, Gates' mother held the post of housekeeper for the third Duke of Bolton. This position allowed her a degree of influence and patronage. As a result, she was able to have Horace Walpole serve as her son's godfather. In 1745, Gates decided to seek a military career. With assistance from Bolton, he was able to obtain a lieutenant's commission in the 20th Regiment of Foot. Serving in Germany during the War of the Austrian Succession, Gates quickly proved to be a skilled staff officer and later served as regimental adjutant. With the end of the conflict, Gates found himself unemployed when his regiment was disbanded. In 1749, he secured an appointment as aide-de-camp to Colonel Edward Cornwallis and traveled to Nova Scotia.
Thomas Gage- The second son of the 1st Viscount Gage, Thomas Gage was born at Firle, England in 1719. Sent to the Westminster School, Gage became friends with John Burgoyne, Richard Howe and the future Lord George Germain. Departing school, Gage joined the British Army as an ensign, before purchasing a commission as a lieutenant in the 1st Northampton Regiment on January 30, 1741. The following year he transferred to Battereau's Foot Regiment. In 1743, Gage was promoted to captain and joined the Earl of Albemarle's staff as an aide-de-camp.
William Howe- William Howe was born August 10, 1729, and was the third son of Emanuel Howe, 2nd Viscount Howe and his wife Charlotte. His grandmother had been the mistress of King George I and as a result Howe and his three brothers were the illegitimate uncles of King George III. Attending Eton, Howe followed his two elder brothers into the military on September 18, 1746 when he purchased a commission as a coronet in Cumberland's Light Dragoons. A quick study, he was promoted to lieutenant the following year and captain in 1750. While with the regiment, he befriended Major Wolfe, one of his future commanders.
John Burgoyne-was born 1722, in Sutton, England. Burgoyne was defeated by superior American forces in the Saratoga (New York) campaign of 1777, during the American Revolution. Exhausting his food and ammunition and receiving no aid, he had to surrender to Gates north of Saratoga Springs on October 17, 1777. Paroled along with his troops, he returned to England, where he faced severe criticism.
Charles Cornwallis- was born at Grosvenor Square, London, on New Year’s Eve in 1738. The eldest son of Charles, 1st Earl Cornwallis, and Elizabeth Townshend, he received his early education at Eton. Eager to begin a military career, Cornwallis purchased a commission as an ensign in the 1st Foot Guards on December 8, 1757, and attended the military academy at Turin, Italy. Taking his rightful place among the peerage of the ruling class, he became a Member of Parliament, entering the House of Commons for the village of Eye in Kent in January 1760.