John Cadwalader (general)
Encyclopedia
John Cadwalader was a commander of Pennsylvania
troops during the American Revolutionary War
.
of Quaker parentage, the eldest son of Thomas Cadwalader
(1707-1779) and Hannah Lambert, his wife. In 1750, the Cadwalader family removed to Philadelphia where John and Lambert Cadwalader
, his brother, were merchants.
On September 25, 1768, John Cadwalader married Elizabeth Lloyd (1742-1776), the daughter of Edward Lloyd, of Talbot County, Maryland
. Her brother, Edward Lloyd IV
, was a delegate to the Continental Congress
for Maryland. Their daughter, Maria Cadwalader (1776-1811), married Samuel Ringgold, who became a congressman representing Maryland. Two of their sons, Samuel Ringgold
and Cadwalader Ringgold
, had distinguished military careers.
In 1776, Colonel John Cadwalader was elected senior officer of the Philadelphia Associators, a volunteer militia founded by Benjamin Franklin in 1747. By December, Cadwalader and the Associators were positioned about 10 miles south of Trenton
on the west side of the Delaware River
in Bucks County, Pennsylvania
at the ferry between Bristol, Pennsylvania
and Burlington, New Jersey
. Cadwalader had received orders to send his column across the river on Christmas Day and march to Trenton from the south. Meanwhile, George Washington
's column would cross the river to the north of Trenton and attack the city from that direction. After successfully crossing his light forces, Cadwalader discovered that river ice prevented crossing his artillery
. He then returned his column to the Pennsylvania side, leaving Washington's forces unsupported in New Jersey. It was fortunate for Washington that a Hessian column, having marched from their garrison at Bordentown
to Mount Holly where they were engaged in the Battle of Iron Works Hill
, were no longer in position to defend Trenton. Washington was successful in his surprise attack of December 26 against the Hessian garrison in Trenton.
Cadwalader and his column did cross the river the next day. Cadwalader subsequently took part in the further actions in New Jersey
, which forced the British commander General William Howe
and his principal subordinate, Lord Cornwallis, to surrender the state to the Americans.
After the Conway Cabal
, he fought a duel
with Thomas Conway
in 1778 in which Cadwalader wounded his opponent with a shot in the mouth.
John Cadwalader married Williamina Bond (1753-1837), daughter of Dr. Phineas Bond, of Philadelphia. Their son, Thomas (1779-1841), like his father, became a general of the Pennsylvania militia. Their daughter, Frances (1781-1843), married David Erskine, 2nd Baron Erskine
(1777-1855), who was the British Ambassador to the United States from 1807 to 1809.
In 1779, Cadwalader became a trustee of the University of Pennsylvania
and returned to his estate on the banks of the Sassafras River
at Shrewsbury, Kent County, Maryland. He became a member of the Maryland State Assembly.
John Cadwalader died February 10, 1786. He is buried at Shrewsbury Chapel, Kent County, Maryland.
Thomas Paine
wrote his epitaph:
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
troops during the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
.
Early life
John Cadwalader was born in Trenton, New JerseyTrenton, New Jersey
Trenton is the capital of the U.S. state of New Jersey and the county seat of Mercer County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Trenton had a population of 84,913...
of Quaker parentage, the eldest son of Thomas Cadwalader
Thomas Cadwalader
Thomas Cadwalader was an American physician in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. After studying medicine with his uncle Dr. Evan Jones, he traveled to London to study medicine. He lived for a while near Trenton, New Jersey, where he became the chief burgess in 1746. After returning to Philadelphia, he...
(1707-1779) and Hannah Lambert, his wife. In 1750, the Cadwalader family removed to Philadelphia where John and Lambert Cadwalader
Lambert Cadwalader
Lambert Cadwalader was an American merchant and leader in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. He fought in the Revolutionary War, then represented New Jersey in the Continental Congress and the U.S. Congress.-Early life:...
, his brother, were merchants.
On September 25, 1768, John Cadwalader married Elizabeth Lloyd (1742-1776), the daughter of Edward Lloyd, of Talbot County, Maryland
Talbot County, Maryland
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*81.4% White*12.8% Black*0.2% Native American*1.2% Asian*0.1% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*1.6% Two or more races*2.7% Other races*5.5% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
. Her brother, Edward Lloyd IV
Edward Lloyd (delegate)
Edward Lloyd IV was an American planter from Talbot County, Maryland. He was a delegate to the Continental Congress for Maryland in 1783 and 1784. In 1771 Lloyd purchased the Chase-Lloyd House in Annapolis, Maryland from Samuel Chase, and in 1790 he built Wye House on the family plantation at Wye...
, was a delegate to the Continental Congress
Continental Congress
The Continental Congress was a convention of delegates called together from the Thirteen Colonies that became the governing body of the United States during the American Revolution....
for Maryland. Their daughter, Maria Cadwalader (1776-1811), married Samuel Ringgold, who became a congressman representing Maryland. Two of their sons, Samuel Ringgold
Samuel Ringgold (soldier)
Samuel B. Ringgold was an artillery officer in the United States Army who was noted for several military innovations which caused him to be called the "Father of Modern Artillery." He was also, according to some records, the first U.S...
and Cadwalader Ringgold
Cadwalader Ringgold
Cadwalader Ringgold was an officer in the United States Navy who served in the United States Exploring Expedition, later headed an expedition to the Northwest and, after initially retiring, returned to service during the Civil War....
, had distinguished military careers.
Revolutionary War
Trenton, New Jersey
Trenton is the capital of the U.S. state of New Jersey and the county seat of Mercer County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Trenton had a population of 84,913...
on the west side of the Delaware River
Delaware River
The Delaware River is a major river on the Atlantic coast of the United States.A Dutch expedition led by Henry Hudson in 1609 first mapped the river. The river was christened the South River in the New Netherland colony that followed, in contrast to the North River, as the Hudson River was then...
in Bucks County, Pennsylvania
Bucks County, Pennsylvania
- Industry and commerce :The boroughs of Bristol and Morrisville were prominent industrial centers along the Northeast Corridor during World War II. Suburban development accelerated in Lower Bucks in the 1950s with the opening of Levittown, Pennsylvania, the second such "Levittown" designed by...
at the ferry between Bristol, Pennsylvania
Bristol, Pennsylvania
Bristol is a borough in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, northeast of Philadelphia opposite Burlington, N.J. on the Delaware River. Bristol was first incorporated in 1720. Although its charter was revised in 1905, the original charter remains in effect, making Bristol one of the older boroughs in...
and Burlington, New Jersey
Burlington, New Jersey
Burlington is a city in Burlington County, New Jersey, United States and a suburb of Philadelphia. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was 9,920....
. Cadwalader had received orders to send his column across the river on Christmas Day and march to Trenton from the south. Meanwhile, George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
's column would cross the river to the north of Trenton and attack the city from that direction. After successfully crossing his light forces, Cadwalader discovered that river ice prevented crossing his artillery
Artillery
Originally applied to any group of infantry primarily armed with projectile weapons, artillery has over time become limited in meaning to refer only to those engines of war that operate by projection of munitions far beyond the range of effect of personal weapons...
. He then returned his column to the Pennsylvania side, leaving Washington's forces unsupported in New Jersey. It was fortunate for Washington that a Hessian column, having marched from their garrison at Bordentown
Bordentown, New Jersey
Bordentown City is in Burlington County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was 3,924. Bordentown is located at the confluence of the Delaware River, Blacks Creek and Crosswicks Creek...
to Mount Holly where they were engaged in the Battle of Iron Works Hill
Battle of Iron Works Hill
The Battle of Iron Works Hill, also known as the Battle of Mount Holly, was a series of minor skirmishes that took place on December 22 and 23, 1776, during the American War of Independence...
, were no longer in position to defend Trenton. Washington was successful in his surprise attack of December 26 against the Hessian garrison in Trenton.
Cadwalader and his column did cross the river the next day. Cadwalader subsequently took part in the further actions in New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, which forced the British commander General William Howe
William Howe
William Howe may refer to:* William Howe, 5th Viscount Howe , British general during American Revolutionary War* William Howe , patented Howe Truss for covered bridges* William Dean Howe , Canadian Member of Parliament...
and his principal subordinate, Lord Cornwallis, to surrender the state to the Americans.
After the Conway Cabal
Conway Cabal
The Conway Cabal refers to a series of events in late 1777 and early 1778 suggesting that George Washington be replaced as commander of the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. It was named after Brigadier General Thomas Conway, whose letters criticizing Washington were forwarded...
, he fought a duel
Duel
A duel is an arranged engagement in combat between two individuals, with matched weapons in accordance with agreed-upon rules.Duels in this form were chiefly practised in Early Modern Europe, with precedents in the medieval code of chivalry, and continued into the modern period especially among...
with Thomas Conway
Thomas Conway
Thomas Conway was a French soldier from Ireland who served as a major general in the American Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. He became involved with the alleged Conway Cabal. He later served with Émigré forces during the French Revolutionary War.-Early life:Conway was born...
in 1778 in which Cadwalader wounded his opponent with a shot in the mouth.
Later life
David Erskine, 2nd Baron Erskine
David Montagu Erskine, 2nd Baron Erskine was a British diplomat and politician.-Background and education:...
(1777-1855), who was the British Ambassador to the United States from 1807 to 1809.
In 1779, Cadwalader became a trustee of the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
and returned to his estate on the banks of the Sassafras River
Sassafras River
The Sassafras River is a tributary of the Chesapeake Bay on the Delmarva Peninsula in the United States. It is about long and starts in western New Castle County, Delaware, and along the boundary between Cecil County, Maryland on the north and Kent County, Maryland on the south...
at Shrewsbury, Kent County, Maryland. He became a member of the Maryland State Assembly.
John Cadwalader died February 10, 1786. He is buried at Shrewsbury Chapel, Kent County, Maryland.
Thomas Paine
Thomas Paine
Thomas "Tom" Paine was an English author, pamphleteer, radical, inventor, intellectual, revolutionary, and one of the Founding Fathers of the United States...
wrote his epitaph:
His early and inflexible patriotism will endear his memory to all true friends of the American Revolution. It may with strictest justice be said of him, that he possessed a heart incapable of deceiving. His manners were formed on the nicest sense of honor and the whole tenor of his life was governed by this principle. The companions of his youth were the companions of his manhood. He never lost a friend by insincerity nor made one by deception. His domestic virtues were truly exemplary and while they served to endear the remembrances they embitter the loss of him to all his numerous friends and connexions.
External links
- Biography and portrait of Gen. John Cadwalader at Virtualology.com
- Biography and portrait of Gen. John Cadwalader Courtesy of the University of Pennsylvania
- Biography and portrait of Dr. Thomas Cadwalader Courtesy of the University of Pennsylvania
- The Cadwalader Family Papers, including correspondence and Revolutionary War materials belonging to General John Cadwalader, are available for research use at the Historical Society of PennsylvaniaHistorical Society of PennsylvaniaThe Historical Society of Pennsylvania is a historical society founded in 1824 and based in Philadelphia. The Society's building, designed by Addison Hutton and listed on Philadelphia's Register of Historical Places, houses some 600,000 printed items and over 19 million manuscript and graphic items...
.