Military officer; born in
Mendon (now
Milford),
Mass., March 24, 1747; graduated at Harvard College in 1769; taught school, practised surveying, and became proprietor of the town of
Shapleigh, Me. In 1775 he was studying law with
General Sullivan, when he left his books and joined the army at
Cambridge as
Sullivan's brigade-major.
He was with him in the
battle of Long Island, and of
Trenton and
Princeton; was especially distinguished at
Saratoga; and from 1778 to 1781 was adjutant-general of the army.
He commanded a regiment of light infantry in the siege of
Yorktown, where he was surprised, and surrendered, but was so badly wounded that he died in
Williamsburg, Va., Oct. 6, 1781.