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Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing), Andre, John, 1751- (search)
cy. His literary tastes brought to him the acquaintance of literary people. Among these was the poetess, Anna Seward. of Lichfield, to whose cousin, Honora Sneyd, Andre became warmly attached. They were betrothed, but their youth caused a postponement of their nuptials, and Andre entered the army and came to America, in 1774, as lieutenant of the Royal Fusileers. With them, in Canada, he was taken prisoner by Montgomery, at St. Johns (Nov. 2, 1775), and was sent to Lancaster, Pa. In December, 1776, he was exchanged, and promoted to captain in the British army. He was appointed aide to General Grey in the summer of 1777, and on the departure of that officer he was placed on the staff of Sir Henry Clinton, by whom he was promoted (1780) to the rank of major, and appointed adjutant-general of the British forces in America. His talents were appreciated, and wherever taste was to be displayed in any arrangements, the matter was left to Andre. He was the chief actor in promoting and
Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing), Baltimore, (search)
rd Baltimore. In the same year William Fell, a ship-carpenter, purchased a tract east of the stream and called it Fell's Point, on the extremity of which Fort McHenry now stands. In 1732 a new town of 10 acres was laid out on the east side of the stream, and called Jonestown. It was united to Baltimore in 1745, dropping its own name. In 1767 Baltimore became the county town. The population in 1890 was 434,439; in 1900, 508,957. When the British army approached the Delaware River (December, 1776), and it was feared that they would cross into Pennsylvania and march on Philadelphia, there was much anxiety among the patriots. The Continental Congress, of the courage and patriotism of which there was a growing distrust, were uneasy. Leading republicans hesitated to go further, and only Washington and a few other choice spirits were hopeful. When the commander-in-chief was asked what he would do it Philadelphia should be taken, he replied, We will retreat beyond the Susquehanna Ri
Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing), Burgoyne, Sir John, 1723-1792 (search)
g military promotion and settled $1,500 a year upon him. He served with distinction in Portugal in 1762. The year before, he was elected to Parliament, and gained his seat as representative of another borough, in 1768, at an expense of about $50,000. In the famous Letters of Junius he was severely handled. Being appointed to command in America, he arrived at Boston May 25, 1775; and to Lord Stanley he wrote a letter, giving a graphic account of the battle on Bunker (Breed's) Hill. In December, 1776, he returned to England, and was commissioned lieutenant-general. Sir John Burgoyne. Placed in command of the British forces in Canada, he arrived there early in 1777, and in June he began an invasion of the province of New York by way of Lake Champlain and the Hudson Valley. He left St. Johns on the Sorel (June, 1777) with a brilliant and well-appointed army of 8,000 men, and ascended Lake Champlain in boats. At the falls of the Bouquet River, near the western shore of the lake,
Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing), Burke, Thomas, 1747-1783 (search)
Burke, Thomas, 1747-1783 Governor, born in Ireland about 1747; went to Virginia when seventeen years old, and in time engaged in the practice of medicine. Then he studied law, and in 1774 moved to Hillsboro. He had written against the stamp act and other obnoxious measures, and he took a conspicuous part in politics in North Carolina. He was a member of the Provincial Congress in 1776; was engaged a short time in the army, and was a member of Congress from December, 1776, until early in 1781, when he was chosen governor of the State. In September of that year he was seized by Tories, and kept a prisoner on James Island, near Charleston, four months; after which he was regularly exchanged, resumed his duties of governor, but soon retired to private life. He died in Hillsboro, N. C., Dec. 2, 1783.
Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing), Clymer, George 1739-1813 (search)
Clymer, George 1739-1813 Signer of the Declaration of Independence; born in Philadelphia in 1739; was an active patriot during the war for independence, and a member of the council of safety in Philadelphia. In July, 1775, he was made joint treasurer of Pennsylvania with Mr. Hillegas; and when, in December, 1776. Congress fled to Baltimore, Clymer was one of the commissioners left in Philadelphia to attend to the public interests. In 1777 he was a commissioner to treat with the Indians at Fort Pitt; and in 1780 he assisted in organizing the Bank of North America. At the close of the war he made his residence at Princeton, N. J.; and in 1784 was a member of the Pennsylvania legislature. In 1787 he was a member of the convention that framed the national Constitution, and was a member of the first Congress under it. A collector of the excise duties in 1791 which led to the Whiskey insurrection (q. v.), and serving on a commission to treat with Southern Indians, Mr. Clymer, afte
Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing), Congress, Continental (search)
d in convention at Albany (q. v.) twenty-one years before. It was a virtual declaration of independence, but it was not acted upon at that time. The Congress also established a postal system (July 26, 1775) and appointed Dr. Franklin postmaster-general. It also established a general hospital, with Dr. Benjamin Church as chief director. The army before Boston and an expedition for the conquest of Canada engaged much of the attention of the Congress for the rest of the year. Late in December, 1776, the Congress, which had fled from Philadelphia and reassembled at Baltimore, cast aside its hitherto temporizing policy. Up to this time the Congress had left on their journal the suggestion that a reunion with Great Britain might be the consequence of a delay in France to declare immediately and explicitly in their favor. Now they voted to assure foreign courts that the Congress and people of America are determined to maintain their independence at all events. It was resolved to o
Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing), Jay, John 1817-1894 (search)
r he married a daughter of William Livingston, of New Jersey. In that Congress, though the youngest member but one, he took a conspicuous part, being the author of the Address to the people of Great Britain. His facile pen was often employed in framing documents in the Congress of 1775. Early in 1776 he left Congress and engaged in the public affairs of his own State, being a leading member of the Provincial Congress in 1776. He wrote the able address of the convention at Fishkill in December, 1776; reported a bill of rights to the New York constitutional convention in March, 1777; and was the chief author of the first constitution of the State of New York. After assisting in putting in motion the machinery of his State government, and being made a judge he entered Congress again late in 1778 and became president of that body. In September, 1779, he was sent to Spain to negotiate a loan. Mr. Jay was one of the commissioners for negotiating a treaty of peace with Great Britain.
Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing), Knox, Henry 1750- (search)
nd married Lucy, daughter of Secretary Flucker. He belonged to an artillery company when the Revolution began, and his skill as an engineer artillerist on the staff of Gen. Artemas Ward attracted the attention of Washington. In November (1775) he was placed in command of the artillery, and was employed successfully in bringing cannon from captured forts on Lake Champlain and on the Canadian frontier to Cambridge, for the use of the besieging army. Knox was made a brigadier-general in December, 1776, and was the chief commander of the artillery of the main army throughout the whole war, being conspicuous in all the principal actions. He was one of the court of inquiry in Major Andres case; was in command at West Point after hostilities had ceased, and arranged for the surrender of New York. At Knox's suggestion, the Society of the Cincinnati was established. He was Secretary of War before and after Washington became President of the United States (1781-95), and when he left offic
Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing), Morris, Robert 1734-1806 (search)
f the Revolution it was the largest commercial house in Philadelphia. Mr. Morris espoused the cause of the colonies, and was a member of the Continental Congress in 1775. On July 2, 1776, he voted against the resolution for independence, and on the 4th he refused to vote on the Declaration because he considered the movement premature. When it was adopted, he signed it. Hard money was lacking to pay the bounties offered by the Congress when Washington attempted to recruit his army (December, 1776). It was an urgent necessity at a critical moment. The Congress had just ordered the issue of $5,000,000 in paper money, but the credit of that body was already so low that many good republicans refused to take that currency. Washington applied to Morris, whose credit stood high as well as his skill as a financier, for a large sum in hard money. Morris doubted his ability to raise it. In a desponding mood he left his counting-room at a late hour, musing, as he walked, on the subject o
Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing), Newport, capture of (search)
Newport, capture of Early in December, 1776, a British fleet, with 6,000 troops on board, appeared off Newport, The old State-House. R. I. The few troops stationed there evacuated the town without attempting to defend it. Commodore Hopkins had several Continental vessels lying there, with a number of privateers. With these he escaped up the bay, and was effectually blockaded at Providence. When Washington heard of this invasion he sent Generals Arnold and Spencer to the defence of Rhode Island. This possession of Newport, the second town in size and importance in New England, produced general alarm and great annoyance to the inhabitants east of the Hudson. French fleet and army blockaded. Washington had hoped the French army, which arrived at Newport, July 10, would march to the Hudson River, and, with their assistance, expected to drive the British from the city of New York. But it was compelled to stand on the defensive there. Six British ships-of-the-line, which h
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