born Jan. 24, 1733, Hingham, Mass.
died May 9, 1810, Boston
American Revolutionary officer.
After serving in the Massachusetts militia (175576), he was appointed major general in the Continental Army. As commander of forces in the South in 1780, he was forced to surrender with 7,000 troops after the British victory at Charleston, S.C. Released in a prisoner exchange, he served in the Yorktown campaign in 1781. From 1781 to 1783 he served as secretary of war, and in 1787 he commanded the militia forces that suppressed Shays' Rebellion . From 1789 to 1809 he was collector for the port of Boston.