Benjamin Lincoln
Benjamin Lincoln served as a major general in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. Lincoln served from 1781 to 1783 as the first United States Secretary of War. While Secretary of War, Lincoln became an original member of The Society of the Cincinnati of the state of Massachusetts and was elected as the first president of the Massachusetts Society on June 9, 1783. In January 1776, Lincoln was promoted to major general of the Massachusetts militia, overseeing the coastal defenses of the state. After the British evacuated Boston, he and Continental Army General Artemas Ward oversaw attempts to improve the state's coastal fortifications. Despite his lack of combat experience, Lincoln began lobbying state representatives to the Continental Congress for a Continental Army officers commission, anticipating that the aging and ill General Ward might soon step down. When Lincoln reached southwestern Connecticut, Washington first ordered him to prepare an expedition across Long Island Sound to raid British positions on Long Island. The expedition was aborted when Washington began to retreat from New York after the Battle of Long Island (Brooklyn) in August 1776.
In July 1777, Washington dispatched three of his best officers, Colonel Morgan, General Arnold and General Lincoln north to assist Philip Schuyler, and afterward Schuyler's replacement Horatio Gates, in the defense of upstate New York against the advance of General John Burgoyne's expedition from Quebec. By early September Lincoln had 2,000 men under his command, and launched several detachments at the British supply line. Lincoln's militia played no role in the American victory at the October 7 Battle of Bemis Heights. Lincoln rejoined Washington outside New York in August 1778, and was appointed commander of the Southern department in September. He was denied the honors of war in surrendering, due to the British annoyance at his facilitating the escape of South Carolina militia units. After being exchanged for the British Major General William Phillips in November 1780, Lincoln returned to Washington's main army. From 1781 to late 1783, Lincoln served as the first United States Secretary at War. He stayed active in public life in various capacities, including a term as Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts and many years as the Collector of the Port of Boston. He retired from public life in 1809 and died in Hingham on May 9, 1810.
In July 1777, Washington dispatched three of his best officers, Colonel Morgan, General Arnold and General Lincoln north to assist Philip Schuyler, and afterward Schuyler's replacement Horatio Gates, in the defense of upstate New York against the advance of General John Burgoyne's expedition from Quebec. By early September Lincoln had 2,000 men under his command, and launched several detachments at the British supply line. Lincoln's militia played no role in the American victory at the October 7 Battle of Bemis Heights. Lincoln rejoined Washington outside New York in August 1778, and was appointed commander of the Southern department in September. He was denied the honors of war in surrendering, due to the British annoyance at his facilitating the escape of South Carolina militia units. After being exchanged for the British Major General William Phillips in November 1780, Lincoln returned to Washington's main army. From 1781 to late 1783, Lincoln served as the first United States Secretary at War. He stayed active in public life in various capacities, including a term as Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts and many years as the Collector of the Port of Boston. He retired from public life in 1809 and died in Hingham on May 9, 1810.
