John Thomas (American general)
John Thomas | |
---|---|
Province of Quebec, British America | |
Allegiance | United States |
Branch | Continental Army |
Rank | Major general |
Commands held | 2nd Massachusetts Regiment |
Battles/wars | Seven Years' War
|
John Thomas (1724 – 2 June 1776) was an American doctor and soldier from
Thomas was born in Marshfield, Massachusetts. As a young man he studied medicine with Doctor Tufts in Medford before beginning his own practice in Kingston. He was married to Hannah Thomas with whom he had two sons and a daughter.
Colonial wars
During
By the time of the
American War of Independence
In the period leading up to open war, Thomas recruited a regiment of volunteers (2nd Massachusetts Regiment) in Plymouth County and served as their colonel. In February 1775 the state assembly named him a brigadier general. He led his troops to the siege in Boston, and in June, the Congress appointed him a brigadier in the Continental Army.
Thomas briefly resigned, disappointed that while four major generals were named, he was not on the list. Congress was then trying to name no more than one major general from each state, and Artemas Ward was given preference. When George Washington and Charles Lee both implored him to remain, he returned to service. The Congress resolved that he would be given precedence over all other brigadiers in the army.
On the night of March 4, 1776, he led his division to fortify the Dorchester Heights, overlooking the south harbor at Boston, by using cannon that Henry Knox had brought from Fort Ticonderoga. From that position, he threatened the British fleet and the British were forced to withdraw, evacuating Boston on March 17. Thomas was finally named a major general.
After General
He immediately sent the sick men to Trois-Rivières and began a withdrawal with the rest. Thomas died of smallpox on June 2, 1776, during the retreat up the Richelieu River near Chambly. By June 18, the Continental Army had abandoned Canada.
Legacy
- namesake of Thomaston, Maine[3]
References
- Endnotes
- ^ Coffin, Charles. " Full text of "The life and services of Major General John Thomas". " Archive.org. The Internet Archive. 10 Jul 2009
- ISBN 9780870271120.
- ISBN 9780870271120.
- Texts
External links
- John Thomas at Find a Grave – cenotaph at Fort Chambly Military Cemetery, Quebec
- Gen John Thomas at Find a Grave – cenotaph at the Old Burial Ground, Kingston, Plymouth County, Massachusetts