Benjamin Lincoln

Benjamin Lincoln ( born January 24, 1733 in Hingham, Massachusetts, colony of the Kingdom of Great Britain; † May 9, 1810 in Hingham, Massachusetts, United States) was an American general in the Revolutionary War.

Lincoln was born in a farmer's family in the Puritan town of Hingham. His great- great-grandfather was one of the city founders, and his father, also named Benjamin, almost all the important offices of the city held. He followed his father's footsteps in its local office. He also worked in the local militia to lieutenant colonel up (1776 ). 1776, he was brigadier general on February 19, 1777 Major General and commander of all Massachusetts troops in the Boston area. After the British evacuation of Boston to Lincoln General George Washington joined and commanded the right wing at the battle of White Plains. Shortly after the fighting at Fort Independence, he was appointed major general in the Continental Army.

Lincoln was with General Washington to the south, and then was sent to the Northern Department of the Continental Army to help in the defense of General John Burgoyne's Saratoga campaign. After he had recovered from several wounds, Lincoln was commander of the Southern Department of the Continental Army in September 1778. He did not manage to retake Georgia, and had on 12 May 1780 in Charleston (South Carolina) capitulate. After he was replaced, he soon returned to Washington's main group of Continental Army back, led her right back to the south to Virginia and played a major role in the surrender of Cornwallis after the battle of Yorktown on October 20, 1781.

Lincoln helped Shays Rebellion in 1787 down to beat, but later pleaded for mercy for the arrested insurgents. After the war he remained active in various capacities in public life, including as defense secretary until he retired in 1809.

Birthplace of General Benjamin Lincoln in Hingham, Massachusetts. Photo of 1936.