born Nov. 11, 1733, Albany, N.Y.
died Nov. 18, 1804, Albany, N.Y., U.S.
American Revolutionary officer.
He served in the French and Indian War and helped settle colonial war claims with Britain (1761–63). He served in the New York legislature (1768–75) and in the Continental Congress (1775–77, 1778–80). In the American Revolution he was commissioned one of four major generals in the Continental Army. As commander of the northern department, he was unable, because of illness, to undertake his planned invasion of Canada. His later defeat at the Battle of Ticonderoga led to his replacement by Horatio Gates . He subsequently served as one of New York's first U.S. senators (1789–91, 1797–98).