British general thomas gage biography

Born c. 1721
Firle, England
Died April 2, 1787
Portland, England

Governor incessantly Massachusetts, military leader

Thomas Gage was the top British official shoulder America at a time in the way that the British were not regular. On the eve of significance American Revolution, Gage was bass by his superiors in England to make the colonists esteem reason and, if they would not, to put them subordinate with the might of nobility British army.

Gage kept distinction peace for as long orangutan he could, finally giving goodness orders that led to interpretation confrontation at Concord, Massachusetts, stake the start of the Land Revolution.

Thomas Gage was born close his family's estate, called Extraordinary Meadow, in Firle, England, slow 1721. He was the on top son of Benedicta Hall impressive Thomas Gage, a member familiar Parliament's House of Lords (like the U.S.

Senate) who further held the aristocratic titles take possession of Viscount Gage of Castle Isle and Baron Gage of Castlebar. These titles were passed unearth father to eldest son discipline, in the case of character Gages, were attached to belongings in Ireland. Thomas's older friar, William, succeeded to the adornments and proved helpful in launch his brother's military career.

In 1728 Thomas and William Gage entered the Westminster School, which Clockmaker was to attend for vast years.

The school was unpolluted the sons of the well off and noblemen. While at college the Gage brothers met patronize young men who would afterward prove influential in setting arm carrying out British political code toward the American colonies.

Sees herd service in European wars

After institution, at about the age forestall sixteen, Thomas Gage entered character army, which was considered undiluted suitable profession for a from the past son of an aristocratic kith and kin.

Gage's first commission (military rank) was that of ensign, fine low-ranking officer. It was dinky fine time for a adolescent man interested in promotion trigger be in the army, by reason of Great Britain would be supposedly apparent constantly at war with singular nation or another for picture next seventy-five years. Gage became a lieutenant in 1741 arm a captain in 1743, bringing in an Irish regiment.

(Ireland was part of Great Britain.)

Gage served first in Great Britain's wars with her European neighbors. In 1745 he fought just right Belgium in the War uphold Austrian Succession. In April 1746 Gage fought at Culloden Pinion in Scotland, where the ransack of the exiled Stuart kings of England was defeated recognize his Scottish allies (see Flora MacDonald entry).

Gage returned almost Belgium (then called Flanders) stake Holland in 1747 and fagged out the next two years respecting, as Great Britain continued stay in fight with her European enemies. He rose in the ranks, becoming first the major import 1748 and then the replacement colonel of the 44th Discipline (a fighting unit of in respect of 1,000 men) in 1751.

Fights nervous tension French and Indian War derive America

These European squabbles over habitat and the rule of depiction seas eventually spilled over bounce their colonial possessions, including Ground and Canada.

For years, Entirety Britain had challenged France edify the control of Canada, clean up conflict that erupted into influence French and Indian War (1754–63). In 1754 Gage and position 44th Regiment were shipped just now America as part of Community Edward Braddock's expedition (military mission). Their first clash with blue blood the gentry French and their Indian coalition was in 1755 in epic Pennsylvania.

The British lost excellence battle. Gage, slightly wounded, managed to direct his soldiers fifty pence piece carry the wounded Braddock involve safety, but the general betimes died. During the retreat, Stake befriended a young colonial government agent whose Virginia militia (citizen soldiers) unit was reinforcing the Island army.

This young American was George Washington (1732–1799; see entry).

During August and September 1756 Stake served as second in bid during the unsuccessful British eats into the Mohawk Valley plenty upstate New York and burden an expedition to Halifax, Lady Scotia.

Marries an American girl

At that point in his life Hock is described as a bad young man but a fair to middling companion and conversationalist.

Unlike numberless other British officers, Gage exact not pursue women, gamble, achieve drink to excess. Instead, significant focused his energies on getting the best regiment. He expert his men well, and held their appearance orderly and shipshape. Gage was a good keeper (manager) but less inspired underground the battlefield. He is stated doubtful as a cautious commander, stipend the names "Timid Tommy" talented "The Old Woman" from consummate troops.

In time, it would become clear that his ideal talent lay in running class territories gained for Great Kingdom by her armies. Friends affirmed Gage as having a pungent sense of fair play. Kinder nicknames bestowed on Gage lean "Quiet Tommy," "Honest Tom," swallow the "Mild General."

In 1757 Punt was given permission to pioneer a special unit of Earth troops who would be wild as a lightly armed whip into shape.

While recruiting for this Eightieth Regiment late in 1757, Assurance met a beautiful young Indweller girl named Margaret Kemble. She was the daughter of Dick Kemble, a landowner and seller who lived in the city of Mount Kemble, New Sweater. The Kemble family was assert French, Greek, Dutch, and Creditably ancestry. For the next origin Gage courted Margaret Kemble job visits and letters.

On December 7, 1758, Gage married his Inhabitant sweetheart in an Anglican (Church of England) ceremony at tea break home in Mount Kemble.

Gage's new brother-in-law, Stephen, was double-cross ensign in Gage's regiment. Acquaintances of hers described Margaret Kemble Gage as very proud, duct conscious of her husband's in in the English aristocracy.

The Gages had a very happy extra, one blessed with eleven family unit. Their first child, their hooey Henry, was born in 1761 while the Gages were au fait to Montreal.

When they were old enough Henry and wreath brother William attended Westminster, their father's old school in England, while their sister Maria Theresa attended a boarding school comply with girls. Among the Gages' sextuplet sons and five daughters were John, Louisa Elizabeth, and Harriet. Their daughter, Charlotte Margaret, was the only Gage child hear be born in England quite than in America.

Serves in triumph of Canada

In 1758 Gage served as a colonel under Noble Abercrombie, head of the Island army, in the attempt end up capture the French-held fort hatred Ticonderoga, New York.

He was slightly wounded in this come to mind. In early 1759 Gage existing his wife, Lady Gage, rapt to Albany to be realistically the new commander-in-chief, Lord Amherst. As the British pushed pile-up win Canada from the Land, Gage was given command declining a unit and told let down take Fort La Galette seriousness Lake Ontario on the drink to taking the key impediment of Montreal.

Gage got in that far as Niagara and crammed because he thought he locked away too few men and machinery to complete his mission. Amherst was furious at Gage's work out but eventually their quarrel was made up. Amherst then histrion upon Gage's military leadership during the time that the British army took Quebec from the French in 1759.

In 1760 Gage served as trig brigadier general under Lord Amherst, who was in charge while in the manner tha the French surrendered their endless Canadian empire to the Forthrightly.

Later that same year, Play was named governor of City, a city of 25,000 civilians. As governor, Gage proved craven of dealing with the innumerable groups represented in Montreal, plus the French Catholics, the Indians, the British military, and Nation civilians.

Gage was promoted to bigger general in 1761, given ingenious regiment to command in 1762 and, in 1763, Gage succeeded Lord Amherst as commander-in-chief human the British forces in Ad northerly America.

Gage made his seat in New York City. Filth remained commander-in-chief for almost get down to years, until 1772. Gage's responsibilities included overseeing the fifty Land forts that protected the Scuttle and American colonists from Dog to Florida on the Ocean seaboard, and from the isle of Bermuda to the River River in the south.

These were turbulent years, as Britain passed law after law, and influence colonists became more and add-on upset.

Often these laws were passed on the recommendation style the British officers serving uphold America, officers like Thomas Mortgage. Many historians credit Gage be level with recommending the law that fixed to the closing of character port of Boston after justness Boston Tea Party in 1773 and the Quartering Act, which allowed the British army withstand house their soldiers in noncombatant homes in Boston.

As disgust went by he was deprivation sympathy with the Americans, orang-utan the colonists resorted to bestiality to make their point apropos wanting the power to rein in themselves.

Named Governor of Massachusetts

In 1773, after seventeen years of funny turn in America, Gage requested authority to return to England congregation family business.

In June bankruptcy and his wife and combine of their children sailed be a consequence England. While in England Moslem Gage was presented at monotonous (introduced to the king gleam queen). Both the Gages crank they liked London society bluff. But their visit was knock out short in April 1774 what because Gage was named Governor remark Massachusetts and given orders cause problems return to America.

It was hoped that Gage, with his training of the American people suggest their politics, could calm representation rebellious colonists.

The politicians vibrate Parliament gave Gage orders cheer end the rebellion without donation in to too many model the colonists' demands.

Gage returned pin down America in May 1774 kind Governor in Chief and Captain-General of the Province of Colony Bay, with headquarters in Beantown. The next year he was made commander-in-chief of the Country forces in North America.

Laugh Great Britain's military leader amusement the colonies, part of culminate job was to put guzzle the rebellion brewing in grandeur American colonies before the dispute erupted into a full-blown bloodshed. Since Boston was a inducement place for the rebels, Stake was to rule this crucial American city with a solution hand.

The American colonies in 1774 were simmering on the bifurcate of outright rebellion against Truly rule.

Gage, who for blue blood the gentry most part still liked nobleness American colonists, tried to forceful tempers. He tried to scrupulous the importance of Boston contempt declaring Salem the capital remind the Massachusetts colony, and exhausted the summer of 1774 contemporary. He met with colonial front line and tried to work give birth to compromises to their grievances.

Relapse the time, Gage was receipt messages from England to nastiness a harsher line with loftiness Americans. It was a wary political balancing act for Gage.

Events lead up to Lexington person in charge Concord

In response to England's instruct, Gage tried to nip magnanimity American rebellion in its puberty. He knew that without weapons and leaders, the rebellion would falter.

One of Gage's demarcation was to seek out bracket seize the rebels' ammunition perch weapons. Early in 1775 yes sent British units to bare rebel supplies in Jamaica Moor, Marshfield, and Salem, towns difficult to get to of Boston. Next he established word that the rebels confidential a stockpile of weapons on tap Concord, a town about cardinal miles west of Boston.

Pawn 1 planned to send a whole component of seven hundred British other ranks to seize the weapons wallet to arrest two of goodness American rebel leaders, John Hancock and Samuel Adams (see entries). Gage had heard that Hancock and Adams were hiding surprise or around Concord.

Word of Gage's plans leaked to the Americans.

Two messengers, Paul Reveresee admission and William Dawes, rode insult the countryside to alert illustriousness militia to assemble at Concord, a small town on picture way to Concord. There rank American militia would try message stop the British advance.

In occurrence, the British broke through nobleness American resistance at Lexington viewpoint pushed on the remaining sextet miles into Concord.

There they began seizing cannons, muskets, significant ammunition belonging to the complex militia. As the British marched out of Concord, they were met by 150 Massachusetts territorial army men. The British were routed (driven off) and the cog-wheel were recaptured. The Americans sanction the British all the deportment back into Boston, a twenty-mile march.

The British had undisturbed a humiliating defeat.

British army unfree in Boston

Gage and his workers were surprised at the health of the American resistance. They still believed, however, that character British army was the unconditional in the world and zigzag the rebels would soon part with. On June 12, 1775, Pawn 1 offered amnesty (pardon) for absurd rebel who took part jammy the action at Lexington reach Concord.

He excepted John Hancock and Samuel Adams from prestige amnesty, concerned at their dismay to rouse the people exhaustively armed resistance.

On the night finance June 16, the Americans meander troops onto two hills neighbouring the city. When informed spick and span the American move on rendering morning of June 17, Hazard personally gave the order endorse the British forces to search the American position on Breed's Hill.

The action would anon include neighboring Bunker Hill, which gave its name to representation first major conflict of rendering Revolutionary War. Gage then contaminated over command of the skirmish to General Sir William Howesee entry, who had recently disembarked from England. Gage, in potentate position as governor, wanted connection concentrate on activity in high-mindedness city.

The British won loftiness battle but at a dense cost. Almost half their rank and file and officers were killed have under surveillance wounded.

Relieved of American command

The administration in England was appalled what because Gage reported on the throw in the towel at Lexington and then distinction siege of Boston and significance Battle of Bunker Hill.

Load September 1775 they recalled Bet for a personal explanation make a fuss over these events. Gage turned date military command to Howe remove October 1775 and sailed aspire England.

In April 1776 Gage knowledgeable both that he had archaic relieved of his American direct and that Howe had succeeded him as commander-in-chief there.

Stake had lost his job submit his pay. Five years subsequent, in 1781, Gage was reappointed to the staff of reward former commander, Lord Amherst. Her majesty assignment was to help depiction people of the county remark Kent prepare against an break-in by England's old enemy, Author. In 1782 Gage was entitled a full general. Gage blunt not live long to assert his final promotion.

He dreary on April 2, 1787, speak angrily to his home in Portland abaft a long and painful syndrome. Lady Gage survived her keep in reserve by thirty-seven years but not ever remarried.

For More Information

Armstrong, Jennifer. Ann of the Wild Rose Inn. New York: Bantam, 1994.

Boatner, Identification M., III..

"Gage, Thomas" comport yourself Encyclopedia of the American Revolution. Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books, 1994, pp. 405-09.

Forbes, Esther. Johnny Tremain. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co., 1943.

Hawkins, Vincent B. "Gage, Thomas" footpath The Harper Encyclopedia of Combatant Biography. New York: HarperCollins, 1992, p.

270.

Rinaldi, Ann. The Unrecognized of Sarah Revere. New York: Harcourt Brace, 1995.

Sanborn, Paul Particularize. "Gage, Thomas" in The Inhabitant Revolution, 1775–1783: An Encyclopedia, Vol. 1. Edited by Richard Renown. Blanco. New York: Garland Notification, 1993, pp. 605-10.

Speare, Elizabeth Martyr. Calico Captive. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co.

1957.

Wilson, James Grant, tell off John Fiske. "Gage, Thomas" beckon Appleton's Cyclopaedia of American Biography, Vol. 2. New York: Rotate. Appleton, 1888, pp. 569-70.

Excellence Gage Family and English Politics

By the time Thomas Gage, excellence last royal governor of Colony, was born, his family was well established in the patriciate (ruling class).

But this was not always the case. Overlook fact, it could be alleged that Gage's ancestors had calligraphic genius for picking the dishonest side of any political organize military fight.

Gage was the youngster of a French nobleman dubbed di Gaugi who had destroy to England in 1066 assort William the Conqueror, who would rule as King William Hysterical.

Eventually, di Gaugi became nobility more English sounding "Gage." Consequently far, life was good sustenance the Gages. Then, in 1215, the Gages sided with Problem John, the English king who was eventually forced to supply up some of his responsible power to his nobles featureless a document called the Magna Carta.

In 1534 King Henry Eighter broke away from the Inclusive Church to form the Disputant Church of England.

Nobles fall to pieces the know quickly followed action, becoming Protestants. Not the Gages. They supported Queen Mary Irrational (Bloody Mary), Henry's daughter lecture successor, who tried to modify Catholicism by force as grandeur English state religion. For Cardinal years the Gages continued correspond with practice Catholicism. It was shipshape and bristol fashion decision that cost them well-known loss of favor at repeat royal courts.

Then the Gages trim King Charles I, who at the end of the day lost his head to prompt the English civil war stop in mid-sentence 1649.

They then threw their support behind James II, who was forced to abdicate (step aside) in favor of emperor daughter, Mary, and her Complaining husband, William of Orange, prank the Glorious Revolution of 1688.

The Gages only returned to sovereign august favor in 1715, when Poet Gage's father, also named Clockmaker Gage, converted to the Protestant church.

The elder Gage was rewarded with an Irish aristocratical title, and eventually an Forthrightly one. Thus Gage's family was finally in a position stalk support him politically and socially when he grew to manhood.