This triumvirate of british army generals had an incredible impact on the course of the american revolution. Sir henry clinton served in north america for most of the war of independence. Posts about henry clinton written by gene procknow. Spy letters of the american revolution um clements library. Sir henry clinton succeeded major general sir william howe as commanderin chief of the british army in america in may 1778 after serving three years under.
During the war, a complex network of spies, double agents, and traitors emerged in an effort to learn the plans of the enemy before they were enacted. Henry clinton and other officers of the revolution used espionage, coded messages, and other techniques to further their causes. His elder brother was general sir william henry clinton 17691846, his father was general sir henry clinton 17301795, the british commanderinchief in north america during the american revolutionary war, and his grandfather was admiral of the fleet george clinton 16861761. General sir henry clinton replaced general william howe. In1743 he moved to the colonies because his father, admiral george clinton, was made the royal governor of new york instead of following his father into the royal navy, he started a military career. Waterloo edit in 1815 during the battle of waterloo, clinton led the 2nd division which wellington posted in reserve behind his right flank. The philipsburg proclamation june 30, 1779 the year 1779 is often overlooked by historians of the american revolution because the war seemed to have been put on hold. The american revolutionary war was a war britain seemingly should have won. George clinton was the youngest son of francis, sixth earl of lincoln, and appointed commodore and governor of newfoundland in 1732.
It is common knowledge that the ministerial forces of king george the third stationed in america during the war of independence were as much absorbed in quarreling with one another as in fighting the rebel army, not due to differences over strategy, but because of personal friction. Letters from general sir henry clinton during the revolutionary war can be found in the political papers of his cousin, henry pelham clinton, in the newcastle clumber collection held at manuscripts and special collections, university of nottingham information services. General sir henry clinton, kb 16 april 1730 23 december 1795 was a british army officer and politician, best known for his service as a general during the american war of independence. General sir henry clinton was a british general during the american revolutionary war. Davies will present a paper, using research conducted at the clements library, to illustrate clintons thinking on war and how he. Sir henry clinton 17301795 the american revolution. Letters from general sir henry clinton during the revolutionary war can be found in the political papers of his cousin, henry pelhamclinton, in the newcastle clumber collection held at manuscripts and special collections, university of nottingham information services. Mar 04, 2020 ann bates was a loyalist spy who worked for sir henry clinton during the revolutionary war. Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. General, sir henry clinton is born revolutionary war and beyond. Revolutionary war facts reveal that the wars first military conflicts started in the towns of lexington and concord on the morning of april 19. Sir henry clinton succeeded major general sir william howe as commanderinchief of the british army in america in may 1778 after serving three years under howe and, before him, under major general thomas gage. General, sir henry clinton is born revolutionary war and. Henry clinton was a british general who fought in the american revolution.
Most records in war department custody were destroyed by fire, november 8, 1800. He witnessed the battle of bunker hill and led the daring night time march around patriot forces at the battle of brooklyn. George received a post as governor of new york in 1741 and when he departed for the colonies in 1743, henry accompanied. Overview general sir henry clinton kb april 16, 1730 december 23, 1795 was a british army officer and politician who is best known for his service as a general during the american revolutionary war, during most of which he was the british commanderinchief in north america. Henry clinton and consisted of about 3,000 soldiers.
How the americans outspied the british and won the revolutionary war. Henry clinton was at the centre of this knowledge network, and had vociferous opinions about how britain should use its military power. Henry clinton papers 17361850 university of michigan. Sir henry clinton 17301795 sir henry clinton succeeded major general sir william howe as commanderinchief of the british army in america in may 1778 after serving three years under howe and, before him, under major general thomas gage. Especially since bill clinton is of english descent. The battle of new york in the american revolutionary war in 1776. Sir henry clinton 17381795 was a british general in the american revolutionary war and a veteran of the french and indian war. Henry clinton to john burgoyne george washingtons mount vernon. British abandon philadelphia on this day in 1778, after almost nine months of occupation, 15,000 british troops under general sir henry clinton evacuate philadelphia, the former u.
Journal of the american revolution is the leading source of knowledge about the american revolution and founding era. Born on april 16, 1730, to royal navy officer george clinton and his wife, anne carle, henry clinton moved with his family from england to new york. Ann lived in philadelphia, working as a schoolteacher, and began her spy career sometime in 1778. George clinton and consisted of about 600 soldiers. This collection of letters, documents and maps from the british army headquarters during the american revolutionary war is a cornerstone of the clements librarys prestigious revolutionary war holdings.
Jan 22, 2019 general sir henry clinton kb 16 april 1730 23 december 1795 was a british army officer and politician, best known for his service as a general during the american war of independence. What did henry clinton do in the revolutionary war answers. Dezember 1795 in cornwall, england war britischer general wahrend des. This particular letter from sir henry clinton to john burgoyne contains misinformation another spy technique.
Henry clinton to john burgoyne george washingtons mount. Sir henry clinton, with one piece of paper, guaranteed the continuance of the american revolution in the southern theatre. Jan 28, 2020 general sir henry clinton was a british general during the american revolutionary war. Ann bates was a loyalist spy who worked for sir henry clinton during the revolutionary war. Sir henry clinton, british commander in chief in america during the revolutionary war. The exhibit aims to showcase the spy letters of the sir henry clinton papers and to situate them in an educational framework. He is best known for his service as a general during the american war of independence. When the british secretary lord germaine recalled william howe in 1777, clinton became the supreme commander of british forces. Sir henry clinton was born in england on april 16, 1730, the son of george clinton 16861761 and anne carle 16961761. Clinton sat out the first years of the war but deployed to germany in 1760 where he fought in two allied defeats at the battles of corbach and kloster kampen before being wounded in 1762 north of frankfortammain. On may 28th, 1779 sir henry clinton, commanderinchief of british forces in north america, massed 6,000 troops at kingsbridge, new york, for an apparent attempt to take strategic west point, known as the key to the continent. He went to london in 1749 and was commissioned in the british army in 1751.
Henry clinton archives journal of the american revolution. Henry clinton to john burgoyne american battlefield trust. First arriving in boston in may 1775, from 1778 to 1782 he was the british commander. General sir henry clinton kb april 16, 1730 december 23, 1795 was a british army officer and politician who is best known for his service as a general during the american revolutionary war, during most of which he was the british commanderinchief in north america. But while there were few noteworthy battles in america in that year, the conflict continued. The sir henry clinton british army headquarters papers reside at the william l. General sir henry clinton, kb possibly 16 april 1730 23 december 1795 was a british army officer and politician who sat in the house of commons between 1772 and 1795. By dr michael rowe, reader in european history, kings college london. Clinton arrived in boston in 1775, leading reinforcements for governor thomas gage. The american revolutionary war, also known as the american war of independence, was a war between the kingdom of great britain and thirteen british colonies in north american. Despite his shortcomings, clinton was one of the best informed and experienced military practitioners of his day. He began as a captain in the coldstream guards in the early 1750s, henry eventually rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel in the 1st foot guards, later renamed the grenadier guards.
Jan 09, 2017 sir henry clinton, with one piece of paper, guaranteed the continuance of the american revolution in the southern theatre. Mar 04, 2020 henry clinton was a british general who fought in the american revolution. On this day in history april 16, 1730 general, sir henry clinton is born. Is bill clinton related to british revolutionary war general. It is thought that henry clinton was born in 1730, but may have been born. The fortifications at west point controlled the hudson river and prevented the. Revolutionary rookies journal of the american revolution. Henry clinton british army officer, born 1771 wikipedia. Not much is known of his early life and few details are known of his life after the war.
War department collection of revolutionary war records. Sir henry clinton 17301795 by francesco bartolozzi after john smart, published 1780. Not long afterward, clinton and his fleet returned northward, to new york, and left the carolinas to the jurisdiction of charles, earl of cornwallis, aka lord cornwallis. He is best known for his service as a general during the american war of. Facts about the battle of forts montgomery and clinton. The american revolutionary war 17751783, also known as the american war of independence, was fought primarily between the kingdom of great britain and her thirteen colonies in america, resulting in the overthrow of british rule in the colonies and the establishment of the united states of america. At the age of fifteen, henry took his first military commission in the new york militia. A temperamental commander, clinton understood the full strategic and tactical scope of the war for independence as few other britons did though he was unable to turn that insight into victory. Is bill clinton related to british revolutionary war. But while there were few noteworthy battles in america in that year, the conflict continued to reshape lives on both sides of the atlantic. Following the war, clinton returned to england and served in parliament. Letters from general sir henry clinton during the revolutionary war can be. As a result there were, until 1873, few records for the period before 1789 in war department custody.
His father served 35 years in the royal navy and as governor of newfoundland 173341 and new york 17431753, and was the uncle of henry fiennes clinton, 2nd duke of newcastle. The life of revolutionary british general sir henry clinton. George received a post as governor of new york in 1741 and when he departed for the colonies in 1743, henry accompanied his father. The son of george clinton, a naval officer and administrator, henry joined the new york militia in 1745 as a lieutenant. On this day in history, april 16, 1730, general, sir henry clinton is born. Henry clinton british army officer, born 1730 wikipedia. At the end of the peninsular war he was made a lieutenant general and inspectorgeneral of infantry, and was awarded the army gold cross with one clasp. Its failure is popularly blamed upon the incompetence of the political and read more. First arriving in boston in may 1775, from 1778 to 1782 he was the british commanderinchief in north america. American battlefield trust postpones public events scheduled. August 10, 1777 known as the cardan system named for the sixteenthcentury code maker geronimo cardano, a mask letter is one of the more complex secret writing methods since the letter needs to make sense with or without the mask on top. Clinton would be in charge of the british forces for north america through much of the revolutionary war and would ultimately go down in defeat for losing the american revolution. Henry clinton and other officers of the revolution used espionage, coded messages, and other techniques to further. Born in newfoundland in 1730, henry clinton was the son of george clinton, an admiral in the british navy and the governor of newfoundland.
Carleton were british commandersinchief during the war. Sir henry clinton british military officer britannica. Henry clinton letter to john burgoyne, with mask, august 10, 1777. Clinton would be in charge of the british forces for north america through much of the revolutionary war and would ultimately go down in. In addition to his military service, due to the influence of the 2nd duke of newcastle, he was. The battle of new york the revolutionary war youtube. He was secondincommand to general william howe and quite wellconnected. General sir henry clinton replaced general william howe, but. Sir henry clinton was born on april 16, 1730, in newfoundland, canada. His career as a professional soldier spanned half a century, and involved active service in the war of the austrian succession 174048, the seven years war 175663 and the american revolutionary war 177583. When the british secretary lord germaine recalled william howe in 1777, clinton became the supreme commander of british forces in north america.
Henry clinton british general sir henry clinton, british general, born in 1738. He was commanderinchief at the time that the colonies were lost. If so this is intriguing to me as i am a huge fan of sir henry clinton. Letters from general sir henry clinton during the revolutionary war can be found in the political papers of his cousin, henry pelhamclinton, in the newcastle clumber collection held at manuscripts and special collections, the university of nottingham. Henry clinton letter to john burgoyne, with mask, august. A secret, cardan style letter written august 10, 1777 from henry clinton to john burgoyne. The revolutionary war 177583, also known as the american revolution, arose from growing tensions between residents of great britains. In 1780, he was sent to the chesapeake bay by sir henry clinton in order to make a powerful diversion in. Biography of henry clinton, british general thoughtco.
Because her husband was in the british army, it was easy for bates to identify and report on the types of equipment and numbers of men being employed by the. Prior to that, there were two other violent incidents in boston. General sir henry clinton was a key british commander during the american revolution who oversaw the final british defeat in north america. British military commanders, henry clinton, thomas gage, william howe. Many of the remaining revolutionary war records were lost during the war of 1812. He was in new york city for a long time where i used to live which was occupied by the british from august 1776 november 1783 evacuation day its hard to imagine bill may be related to a british general deployed by george iii on the hms cerebus along with william howe. This examination of spy techniques includes a mask letter sent by henry clinton to john burgoyne in 1777. After arriving in boston three years previously, clinton became british commanderinchief in north america in 17781782.
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