Military officer; born in
Newburyport, Mass., Dec. 21, 1764; entered the military service of the
United States in 1786, but soon afterwards went to the
East Indies and entered the Mahratta service, in which he rose to the rank of commander, and at one time led 10,000 men. He first raised three battalions of 500 men each, with a few English officers, whom, as well as his men, he hired, at a certain amount a month, to
[
390]
any of the
Indian princes who needed their services.
Their equipment, including guns and elephants, was at, his own expense.
He was at one time in the pay of Holkar, in the
Peishwa's service, and afterwards
in that of Nizam Ali Khan.
Arriving at
Madras in July, 1789, he was given, by the ruler, the command of 10,000) men. When demands for his services almost ceased, he sold out and went to
Paris.
In 1808 he returned to the
United States, and re-entered the army as colonel of the 4th Infantry on Oct. 7 of that year.
In that capacity he was distinguished in the battle at
Tippecanoe (q. v.). Nov. 7 1811.
Boyd was commissioned brigadier-general Aug. 26, 1812.
He was in command of 1,500 men in the expedition down the
St. Lawrence in 1813; and fought bravely at Chrysler's Field, in canada, Nov. 11, 1813.
He led his brigade in the capture of
Fort George, Upper Canada.
General Boyd was appointed naval officer at the port of
Boston early in 1830, and died there Oct. 4 of that year.
