Leaders of the American Revolution

The American Revolution began in 1775 and led to the rapid formation of American armies to oppose the British. While British forces were largely led by professional officers and filled with career soldiers, the American leadership and ranks were filled with individuals drawn from all walks of colonial life. Some American leaders, such as George Washington, possessed extensive service in the militia, while others came directly from civilian life. The American leadership was also supplemented by foreign officers recruited in Europe, though these were of varying quality. During the early years of the conflict, American forces were hampered by poor generals and those who had achieved their rank through political connections. As the war wore on, many of these were replaced as competent and skilled officers emerged. American Revolution Leaders: American Major General William Alexander, Lord Stirling - noted brigade, division, and department commanderLieutenant Colonel Ethan Allen - Commander, Green Mountain Boys during 1775 attack on Fort TiconderogaMajor General Benedict Arnold - noted field commander, famously changed sides in 1780 becoming one of historys best-known traitorsCommodore John Barry - noted naval commanderBrigadier General George Rogers Clark - Conqueror of the Old NorthwestMajor General Horatio Gates - Commander, Northern Department, 1777-1778, Southern Department, 1780Colonel Christopher Greene - Commander at Fort Mercer, Battle of Red BankMajor General Nathanael Greene - Commander, Continental Army in the South (1780-1783)Commodore John Paul Jones - Key American naval commanderMajor General Henry Knox - American artillery commanderMarquis de Lafayette - Noted French volunteer in American serviceMajor General Charles Lee - Controversial American field commanderMajor General Henry Light Horse Harry Lee - noted Americ an cavalry/light infantry commanderMajor General Benjamin Lincoln - Commander, Southern Department (1778-1780)Brigadier General Francis Marion - The Swamp Fox - Noted guerilla leaderBrigadier General Hugh Mercer - American general killed in 1777Major General Richard Montgomery - Promising American general killed at the Battle of QuebecBrigadier General Daniel Morgan - Key commander at Saratoga and CowpensMajor Samuel Nicholas - Founding Officer, US Marine CorpsBrigadier General Count Casimir Pulaski - Father of the America CavalryMajor General Arthur St. Clair - Commander at Fort Ticonderoga, 1777Major General John Stark - Victor of BenningtonMajor General Baron Friedrich von Steuben - Inspector General, Continental ArmyMajor General John Sullivan - Division Commander (1776-1778), Commander, Rhode Island (1778), Sullivan Expedition (1779)General George Washington - Commander in Chief, Continental ArmyMajor General Anthony Wayne - Daring American commander who saw extensive service American Revolution Leaders - British Major John Andre - British spymasterLieutenant General John Burgoyne - British commander at the Battle of SaratogaGovernor Major General Sir Guy Carleton - British Governor of Quebec (1768-1778, commander-in-chief in America (1782-1783)General Sir Henry Clinton - British commander-in-chief in America (1778-1782)Lieutenant General Lord Charles Cornwallis - British commander in the South, forced to surrender at the Battle of YorktownMajor Patrick Ferguson - inventor of the Ferguson rifle, commander at the Battle of Kings MountainGeneral Thomas Gage - governor of Massachusetts, commander-in-chief in America (1775)Vice Admiral Richard Howe - Commander, North American Station (1776-1778)General Sir William Howe - British commander-in-chief in American (1775-1778)Admiral Lord George Rodney - British naval commanderLieutenant Colonel Banastre Tarleton - noted British cavalry commander