William Thompson (general)
Encyclopedia
William Thompson was a soldier from Pennsylvania
and a brigadier general in the Continental Army
during the American Revolutionary War
.
Thompson was born in Ireland
and emigrated to Carlisle, Pennsylvania
. During the French and Indian War
, Thompson served as a captain in the Kittanning Expedition
under John Armstrong.
After news of the Battle of Bunker Hill
reached Pennsylvania in 1775, Thompson was appointed colonel of a rifle battalion and was sent to Massachusetts
to help in the defense of Boston
. His unit was known as Thompson's Pennsylvania Rifle Battalion, or the 1st Pennsylvania Regiment
. After Thompson's company of Pennsylvania sharpshooters drove back a British
landing-party on November 9, 1775, he was made a brigadier-general, to the displeasure of George Washington
, who had reservations about Thompson's abilities.
Sent to reinforce American troops in Canada, Thompson was captured during an attack on the enemy at Trois-Rivières
in Quebec
on June 8, 1776. He was paroled, but not exchanged for four years, and so he could not reenter military service. Thompson blamed Congressman Thomas McKean
for hindering his exchange; his criticism became so harsh that he was censured by Congress. McKean successfully sued Thompson for libel.
Thompson married Katherine Ross daughter of , signer of the Declaration of Independence
for Pennsylvania
.
After finally being exchanged for Baron Riedesel, Thompson died at his home near Carlisle.
Thompson Street in the Greenwich Village neighborhood of Manhattan in New York City was named after General Thompson.
Sam Maner Revolutionary War Generals site
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...
and a brigadier general in the Continental Army
Continental Army
The Continental Army was formed after the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War by the colonies that became the United States of America. Established by a resolution of the Continental Congress on June 14, 1775, it was created to coordinate the military efforts of the Thirteen Colonies in...
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...
.
Thompson was born in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
and emigrated to Carlisle, Pennsylvania
Carlisle, Pennsylvania
Carlisle is a borough in and the county seat of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, United States. The name is traditionally pronounced with emphasis on the second syllable. Carlisle is located within the Cumberland Valley, a highly productive agricultural region. As of the 2010 census, the borough...
. During the French and Indian War
French and Indian War
The French and Indian War is the common American name for the war between Great Britain and France in North America from 1754 to 1763. In 1756, the war erupted into the world-wide conflict known as the Seven Years' War and thus came to be regarded as the North American theater of that war...
, Thompson served as a captain in the Kittanning Expedition
Kittanning Expedition
The Kittanning Expedition, also known as the Armstrong Expedition or the Battle of Kittanning, was a raid during the French and Indian War that led to the destruction of the American Indian village of Kittanning, which had served as a staging point for attacks by Delaware warriors against...
under John Armstrong.
After news of the Battle of Bunker Hill
Battle of Bunker Hill
The Battle of Bunker Hill took place on June 17, 1775, mostly on and around Breed's Hill, during the Siege of Boston early in the American Revolutionary War...
reached Pennsylvania in 1775, Thompson was appointed colonel of a rifle battalion and was sent to Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
to help in the defense of Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
. His unit was known as Thompson's Pennsylvania Rifle Battalion, or the 1st Pennsylvania Regiment
1st Pennsylvania Regiment
The 1st Pennsylvania Regiment, also known as the Pennsylvania Rifle Regiment and 1st Continental Regiment, was raised under the command of Colonel William Thompson for service in the Continental Army.-History:...
. After Thompson's company of Pennsylvania sharpshooters drove back a British
landing-party on November 9, 1775, he was made a brigadier-general, to the displeasure of 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...
, who had reservations about Thompson's abilities.
Sent to reinforce American troops in Canada, Thompson was captured during an attack on the enemy at Trois-Rivières
Trois-Rivières, Quebec
Trois-Rivières is a city in the Mauricie region of Quebec, Canada, located at the confluence of the Saint-Maurice and Saint Lawrence Rivers. It is situated in the Mauricie administrative region, on the north shore of the Saint Lawrence River across from the city of Bécancour...
in Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
on June 8, 1776. He was paroled, but not exchanged for four years, and so he could not reenter military service. Thompson blamed Congressman Thomas McKean
Thomas McKean
Thomas McKean was an American lawyer and politician from New Castle, in New Castle County, Delaware and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. During the American Revolution he was a delegate to the Continental Congress where he signed the United States Declaration of Independence and the Articles of...
for hindering his exchange; his criticism became so harsh that he was censured by Congress. McKean successfully sued Thompson for libel.
Thompson married Katherine Ross daughter of , signer of the Declaration of Independence
Declaration of independence
A declaration of independence is an assertion of the independence of an aspiring state or states. Such places are usually declared from part or all of the territory of another nation or failed nation, or are breakaway territories from within the larger state...
for Pennsylvania
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...
.
After finally being exchanged for Baron Riedesel, Thompson died at his home near Carlisle.
Thompson Street in the Greenwich Village neighborhood of Manhattan in New York City was named after General Thompson.
External links
- Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774–1789. Monday, November 23, 1778. Censure of Thompson.
- The Wild Geese Today: The Resurrection of Edward Hand. Irish-born soldier served Mike Flannery, George Washington and his adopted nation well
- Correspondence with George Washington
Sam Maner Revolutionary War Generals site