Thomas Edwards (TJAG)
Thomas Edwards | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | August 1, 1753  |
| Died | 1806 (aged 52–53) |
| Alma mater | Harvard College |
| Position held | Judge Advocate General of the United States Army |
Thomas Edwards (August 1, 1753 – 1806) was the third Judge Advocate General of the United States Army.
Colonel Thomas Edwards was born in
.When Colonel
According to a history of the role published by the Office of the Judge Advocate General, Edwards "gained notoriety in 1783 as a victim of the accepted and rather unsubtle command influence of the day". He served in the trial of a Major Reid, who was charged with disobedience and "unmilitary conduct" towards Moses Hazen. When Reid was acquitted, Hazen accused Edwards of "neglect, incompetence, and partiality toward the accused". Edwards was cleared by an officers' court convened by George Washington.[1][2]
Colonel Edwards retained his position as Judge Advocate General of the Army until November 3, 1783, when he resigned his position and returned to the practice of law in Boston. In June 1784 the remnants of the Continental Army were disbanded and the permanent standing Army limited to 80 enlisted men and their officers. This tiny force was expanded somewhat in succeeding years but no successor to Colonel Edwards wag appointed prior to the adoption of the
References
- ^ Thompson, Norman. Before We Had Wings, The Reporter, 1999.
- ^ Hazen's complaint to Washington can be read at the US National Archives
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain: Military Law Review 24 (iii-iv) (1964) (DA Pam 27-100-24, 1 April 1964)