Brigadier-General William Thompson

Alfred Webb

A Compendium of Irish Biography

1878

Thompson, William, Brigadier-General in the American Revolutionary War, was born in Ireland. He was captain of horse in America during the French War (1759-60). In June 1775 he was made colonel of one of the regiments of riflemen which marched to the camp at Cambridge, Massachusetts; and on 10th November his command had a skirmish with the British at Lechmere Point. He was made Brigadier-General the following March, and succeeded Lee in the command of New York. In April he was ordered to Canada to reinforce General Sullivan, by whose orders he attacked the enemy at Three Rivers, where he was taken prisoner. He was allowed to return to Philadelphia on parole, but was not exchanged for nearly two years. He died at his residence near Carlisle, Pennsylvania, 4th September 1781.

Sources

37a. Biographical Dictionary—American Biography: Francis S. Drake. Boston, 1876.

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