William Prescott

William Prescott ( * February 20, 1726 in Groton, Massachusetts, then a British colony, † October 13, 1795 in Pepperell, Massachusetts, USA ) was an American colonel in the Revolutionary War and commanded the American rebels in the Battle of Bunker Hill.

He was born the son of Judge Benjamin Prescott (1696-1738) and Abigail Oliver Prescott ( 1697-1765 ).

Prescott inherited a large estate, and settled in Pepperell, Massachusetts. 1755 he served successfully as a lieutenant and captain in the provincial army under General John Winslow during the campaign against Nova Scotia. His leadership in this campaign caught the attention of the British general, and this offered him a position in the regular army. However, he refused and returned after the war returned to his country estate in Pepperell.

On April 13, 1758, he married Abigail Hale ( 1733-1821 ), with whom he had a son in 1762 named William Prescott.

In 1774 he was offered the command of a militia regiment, with which he marched to Lexington, April 19th 1775 to fight against the military expedition, which had been sent by General Thomas Gage. Before Prescott arrived, the British had already withdrawn, so he moved on to Cambridge, where he joined the provincial army, just like the majority of his officers and men to serve with him during his first campaign. On 16 June 1775 he was ordered with 1,000 men to Charlestown (Massachusetts ) and instructed to perform the fortifications on Bunker Hill. When he arrived in the square, it became clear that the adjacent elevation, Breed's Hill, was more appropriate. So were there during the night, the fortifications, consisting of a hill and a parapet built. The following day, a large British force attacked under the command of General William Howe and the Americans drove them off after two attacks repulsed the Americans and the ammunition had run out. After the battle of Bunker Hill, whose significance lay in the demonstration of the fact that a provincial army can withstand regular British troops, Bank Croft said that " no one seemed to have the command except Colonel Precott, " and that " his bravery never overestimated and could be very appreciated. "He was one of the last to leave the fortifications.

In addition to the Battle of Bunker Hill Prescott has also served in the French and Indian War and actively participated in the Battle of New York City in 1776 and the Saratoga campaign of 1776.

His grandson William H. Prescott was a noted historian and author.