Browsing named entities in Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing). You can also browse the collection for February, 1776 AD or search for February, 1776 AD in all documents.

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Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing), Barber, Francis, 1751- (search)
Barber, Francis, 1751- Military officer; born in Princeton, N. J., in 1751; was graduated at the College of New Jersey in 1767, and became rector of an academy at Elizabeth, N. J., and pastor of the Presbyterian Church there in 1769. Leaving these posts, he joined the New Jersey line in the Continental army as major, in February, 1776. In November he was made a lieutenant-colonel, and was afterwards assistant inspector-general under Baron Steuben. He was active in several battles until 1779, when he was adjutant-general in Sullivan's campaign, and was wounded in the battle of Newtown. In 1781 he was successful in quelling the mutiny of Pennsylvania and New Jersey troops. He was with the army at Newburg in 1783, and was killed by the falling of a tree while he was riding in the edge of a wood, Feb. 11 the same year.
Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing), Barry, John, 1745-1803 (search)
Barry, John, 1745-1803 Naval officer; born in Tacumshane, Wexford co., Ireland, in 1745. He went to sea while he was very young, became the commander of a ship, and gained considerable wealth. In February, 1776, he was appointed by Congress to command the Lexington, fourteen guns, which, after a sharp action, captured the tender Edward. This was the first John Barry. vessel captured by a commissioned officer of the United States navy. Barry was transferred to the frigate Effingham; and in the Delaware, at the head of four boats, he captured an English schooner, Commodore Barry's monument. in 1777, without the loss of a man. He was publicly thanked by Washington. When Howe took Philadelphia, late in 1777, Barry took the Effingham Frederic Auguste Bartholdi. up the Delaware with the hope the Delaware with the hope of saving her, but she was burned by the British. Howe had offered him a large bribe if he would deliver the ship to him at Philadelphia, but it was scornfull
Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing), Caswell, Richard 1729-1789 (search)
officer; born in Maryland, Aug. 3, 1729: went to North Carolina in 1746, and practised law there, serving in the Assembly from 1754 to 1771, and being speaker in 1770. In the battle of the Allamance he commanded Tryon's right wing, but soon afterwards identified himself with the cause of the patriots, and was a member of the Continental Congress (1774-75). For three years he was president of the Provincial Congress of North Carolina, and was governor of the State from 1777 to 1779. In February, 1776, he was in command of the patriot troops in the battle of Moore's Creek Bridge, and received the thanks of Congress and the commission of majorgeneral for the victory there achieved. He led the State troops in the battle near Camden (August, 1780); and was controller-general in 1782. He was again governor in 1784-86; and a member of the convention that framed the national Constitution. While presiding as speaker in the North Carolina Assembly he was stricken with paralysis, and died i
Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing), Franklin, Benjamin 1706-1790 (search)
d as the birthright of subjects in England. Nothing came of the Hints. After the attack by Wedderburne when before the privy council, and his dismissal from the office of postmastergeneral for the colonies, Franklin was subjected to the danger of arrest, and possibly a trial, for treason; for the ministry, angry because he had exposed Hutchinson's letters, made serious threats. Conscious of rectitude, he neither left England then nor swerved a line from his course of duty. When, in February, 1776, Lord North endeavored to find out from him what the Americans wanted, We desire nothing, said Franklin, but what is necessary to our security and well-being. After stating that some of the obnoxious acts would probably be repealed, Lord North said the Massachusetts acts must be continued, both as real amendments of the constitution of that province, and as a standing example of the power of Parliament. Franklin replied: While Parliament claims the right of altering American constituti
Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing), Hopkins, Esek 1718-1802 (search)
Hopkins, Esek 1718-1802 Naval officer; born in Scituate, R. I., in 1718. Governor Cooke commissioned him a brigadier-general at the breaking out of the Revolution. In December, 1775, Congress commissioned him commander-in-chief of the inchoate navy, and he put to sea in the first squadron in February, 1776, consisting of four ships and three sloops, sailing for the Bahama Islands. There he captured a large quantity of ordnance stores and ammunition, and 100 cannon. He captured two British vessels on his return. Complaint was made that he had not annoyed the British ships on the southern coast, and he was arraigned before the naval Esek Hopkins. committee of Congress on the charge. He was acquitted, but unavoidable delays in getting vessels to sea afterwards caused other charges to be made, and he was dismissed the service, Jan. 2, 1777. During his long life he exerted great political influence in Rhode Island. He died in North Providence, R. I., Feb. 26, 1802.
Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing), Mercer, Hugh 1720- (search)
Mercer, Hugh 1720- Military officer; born in Aberdeen, Scotland, about 1720; became a physician, and was assistant surgeon at the battle of Culloden, on the side of the Pretender, and was obliged to leave his country. He came to America in 1747, was a captain in the French and Indian War, was severely wounded in the battle Hugh Mercer. where Braddock was defeated, and received a medal from the corporation of Philadelphia for his prowess in that expedition. He was made lieutenant-colonel in 1758; entered heartily into the military service when the Revolutionary War broke out, and was made colonel of the 3d Virginia Regiment in February, 1776. In June following Congress made him a brigadier-general. He led the column of attack at the battle of Trenton (q. v.), and at the council of war there he suggested the daring night march on Princeton. In the battle that ensued the following morning he was mortally wounded, and died Jan. 12, 1777. See Princeton, battle of.
Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing), New York City (search)
the Duchess of Gordon in the harbor. The committee of safety and the provincial convention of New York were strongly tinctured with Toryism. General Lee, then in Connecticut, had heard of disaffection there and asked permission of Washington to raise volunteers to go there and suppress it. The privilege was granted, and, with the aid of Governor Trumbull, he embodied about 1,200 volunteers and pressed on towards New York, with the bold King Sears as his adjutant-general. His approach (February, 1776) produced great alarm. Many Tories fled with their families to Long Island and New Jersey; and the timid committee of safety protested against his entering the city, for the captain of the Asia had declared that if rebel troops were permitted to enter the town, he would cannonade and burn it. Lee pressed forward and encamped in the Fields, and in a Kip's House. proclamation said he had come to prevent the occupation of Long Island and New York by the enemies of liberty. If the ship
Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing), St. Clair, Arthur 1734-1818 (search)
0, he married, at Boston, a half-sister of Governor Bowdoin; resigned his commission in 1762, and in 1764 settled in Ligonier Valley, Pa., where he established mills and built a fine dwelling-house. Having held, by appointment. several civil offices of trust, he became a colonel of militia in 1775, and in the fall of that year accompanied Pennsylvania commissioners to treat with the Western Indians at Fort Pitt. As colonel of the 2d Pennsylvania Regiment, he was ordered to Canada in February, 1776, and in the early summer aided Sullivan in saving his army from capture. In August he was made a brigadier-general, and joined Washington in November. St. Clair was actively engaged in New Jersey until April, 1777, when he took command of Ticonderoga, which he was compelled to evacuate (July 4-5), by the presence of Burgoyne in overwhelming force. After that he was a member of Washington's military family, acting as his aide at the battle near the Brandywine. He was with Sullivan in
Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing), Virginia, (search)
on appointed commander-in-chief of the American forces by Congress......June 15, 1775 Virginia convention appoints a committee of safety, with Edmund Pendleton president......July, 1775 This convention appoints Patrick Henry commander-in-chief of the Virginian forces......1775 Battle of Great Bridge, near the Dismal Swamp, 12 miles from Norfolk......Dec. 9, 1775 Lord Dunmore burns Norfolk......Jan. 1, 1776 Patrick Henry, feeling slighted, resigns as commander-in-chief......February, 1776 Patrick Henry elected a delegate to the convention......April, 1776 Convention instructs her delegates to Congress to advocate independence......May 15, 1776 Declaration of rights by George Mason adopted by the convention......June 12, 1776 Patrick Henry elected governor of Virginia......June, 177（ State constitution adopted, and colonial government ceases in Virginia......June 29, 1776 Kentucky made a county of Virginia......1776 Henry Clay born in The Slashes, Han
Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing), Walton, George 1740-1804 (search)
laration of Independence; born in Frederick county, Va., in 1740; was early apprenticed to a carpenter, who would not allow him a candle to read by; but he found a substitute in pine knots. He was admitted to the bar in Georgia in 1774, and was one of four persons who called a meeting at Savannah (July 27, 1774) to consult upon measures for the defence of the liberties of their country. Mr. Walton was one of the committee who prepared a petition to the King; also patriotic resolutions adopted on that occasion. From February, 1776, to October, 1781, he was a delegate in Congress from Georgia, and warmly favored the resolution for independence. As colonel of militia, he assisted in defending Savannah in December, 1778, where he was dangerously wounded, made prisoner, and kept so until September, 1779. In 1779 and 1789 he was chosen governor of Georgia; in 1783 was appointed chief-justice of the State; and in 1795-96 was United States Senator. He died in Augusta, Ga., Feb. 2, 1804.
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