Henry clinton american revolution

He is best remembered as a british general during the american revolution. Sir henry clintons narrative of his campaigns, 17751782, with an appendix of original documents. 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. Sir henry clinton, british commander in chief in america during the revolutionary war. Henry clinton, born in 1738, was the son of admiral george clinton governor of newfoundland and subsequently of new york and grandson of the 6th earl of lincoln. He was the main architect of the decision to offer freedom to any rebels slave who could desert to the british lines.

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. The revolutionary war 177583, also known as the american revolution, arose from growing tensions between residents of great britains north american colonies and the colonial government. He first came to america at the age of when his father was made the royal governor of new york. Lexington, concord, bunker hill and siege of boston. Sir henry clinton yorktown battlefield part of colonial. The henry clinton papers contain the correspondence, records, and maps of henry clinton, who served under thomas gage and william howe between 1775 and 1778, and was commanderinchief of the british forces in north america from 1778.

Charleston in 1776 had withstood attack on fort sullivan renamed fort moultrie because its. The exhibit aims to showcase the spy letters of the sir henry clinton papers and to situate them in an educational framework. His role in the american revolution he arrived in america with general howe. The success of this campaign led to cornwallis surrender on october 19, 1781. In 1775, clinton was promoted to major general and ordered to service in america suppressing the colonies rebellion. The son of george clinton, a naval officer and administrator, henry. First arriving in boston in may 1775, from 1778 to 1782 he was the british commander. A british officer during the american revolution, henry clinton was commander in chief of the north american british army at the time of the operations that led to the british capitulation at yorktown and the treaty recognizing american independence. Clinton made the initial contacts with benedict arnold that led to arnolds betrayal of the. The son of george clinton, an admiral of the fleet, henry had two sons who continued the family tradition of high command. Henry clinton was born in newfoundland, the son of admiral george clinton, a noted british naval officer. After a costly draw with sir henry clintons forces at monmouth, he sent greene south to replace gates, and worked with the french general jean baptiste rochambeau to plan the yorktown campaign. 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.

The sir henry clinton british army headquarters papers reside at the william l. By 1793, clinton became a full general and received a post as the governor of gibraltar. We feature smart, groundbreaking research and wellwritten narratives from expert writers. 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. He is best known for his service as a general during the american war of. Clinton possessed significant military experience before the start of the american revolution. 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. The only son of a british admiral, sir henry clinton was raised in pre revolutionary america. But while there were few noteworthy battles in america in that year, the conflict continued to reshape lives on both sides of the atlantic. He went to london in 1749 and was commissioned in the british army in 1751. Jul 28, 2019 with the french entry into the american revolution in february 1778, british strategy in america began to shift as the war became increasingly global in nature.

Henry clinton was no stranger to america at the outbreak of the american revolution. Henry clinton 17301795 was a british general who served as commanderinchief in north america from 1778 to 1782. What did henry clinton do in the revolutionary war answers. 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. Public dispute with lord cornwallis clinton, henrry. In december 1779, the british commanderinchief in america, general sir henry clinton, left new york city with a fleet of ninety troopships, fourteen warships, and more than,500 soldiers and sailors. Not much is known of his early life and few details are known of his life after the war.

Born in newfoundland in 1730, henry clinton was the son of george clinton, an admiral in the british navy and the governor of newfoundland. His father served as royal governor of new york from 17431753. Henry clinton british army officer, born 1730 wikipedia. Sir henry clinton 17301795 the american revolution.

Upon resigning his command and returning to england, clinton faced a storm of criticism for his conduct of the war. After a costly draw with sir henry clinton s forces at monmouth, he sent greene south to replace gates, and worked with the french general jean baptiste rochambeau to plan the yorktown campaign. Clinton made the initial contacts with benedict arnold that led to arnolds betrayal of the patriots. 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. British military commanders, henry clinton, thomas gage, william howe.

Clinton, henry 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. Mar 04, 2020 henry clinton was a british general who fought in the american revolution. Clinton played a major role in the american revolution along with such british generals as thomas gage, john burgoyne, william howe and lord charles cornwallis. First arriving in boston in may 1775, from 1778 to 1782 he was the british commanderinchief in north america. Spy letters of the american revolution um clements library. The american patriots in the thirteen colonies defeated the british in the american revolutionary war 17751783 with the assistance of france, winning independence from great britain and establishing the united states of america. After bunker hill, he served in the successful capture of new york city and in the battle of long island. Clinton arrived in boston in 1775, leading reinforcements for governor thomas gage. Journal of the american revolution is the leading source of knowledge about the american revolution and founding era.

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 american revolution was a colonial revolt which occurred between 1765 and 1783. Of aristocratic blood, clinton early on decided to undertake a career in the military. Beginning his military career with the local militia in 1745, clinton obtained a captains.

Sir henry clinton and the american revolution hyma, albert on. He is best known for his service as a general during the american war of independence. The only son of a british admiral, sir henry clinton was raised in prerevolutionary america. After serving in the new york militia, he came to england and joined the coldstream guards.

Sir henry clinton attempts to save the convention army. Henry clinton was a british general who fought in the american revolution. 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. The american rebellion sir henry clintons narrative of his campaigns, 17751782, with an. Henry clinton papers 17361850 university of michigan.

Sir henry clinton was born in england on april 16, 1730, the son of george clinton 16861761 and anne carle 16961761. At the age of fifteen, henry took his first military commission in the new york militia. General sir william henry clinton 17691846, and lieutenantgeneral sir henry clinton 1771. The american rebellion sir henry clintons narrative of his campaigns, 17751782, with an appendix of original documents clinton, henry on. He entered the military, serving first in the new york militia and then in 1751 as a regular army lieutenant in the coldstream guards. 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. Is bill clinton related to british revolutionary war. Sir henry clinton 17381795 was a british general in the american revolutionary war and a veteran of the french and indian war.

Siege of charleston, 1780 during the american revolution, british land and sea campaign that cut off and forced the surrender of charleston, s. Henry clinton and other officers of the revolution used espionage, coded messages, and other techniques to further their causes. But while there were few noteworthy battles in america in that year, the conflict continued. Clinton had a great impact on the dynamics of the american revolution. In addition to his military service, due to the influence of the 2nd duke of newcastle, he was. He was secondincommand to general william howe and quite wellconnected.

The son of george clinton, a naval officer and administrator, henry joined the new york militia in 1745 as a lieutenant. Siege of charleston american revolution 1780 britannica. Asked in war and military history, american revolution, political science. He was commanderinchief at the time that the colonies were lost. He entered the military, serving first in the new york militia and then in 1751 as a. Henry clinton he came from a noble family that could trace its lineage to 1066 and had a long history of service to the crown. Our work has been featured by the new york times, time magazine, history. This examination of spy techniques includes a mask letter sent by henry clinton to john burgoyne in 1777. He led troops into various battles in america with charles cornwallis as his second in command. He entered the military, serving first in the new york militia and then in 1751 as a regular army lieutenant in the cold stream guards. In 1751, clinton received a commission in the british army and later served in the seven years war, seeing action in. Despite cornwalliss prominent role in the loss and surrender, clinton, as commanderinchief, was blamed for the loss of the american colonies.

The american patriots in the thirteen colonies defeated the british in the american revolutionary war 17751783 with the assistance of france, winning independence from great britain and establishing the united states of america the american colonials proclaimed no taxation without representation. Researching the american revolution your source for information on the american war of independence. Henry clinton students britannica kids homework help. The american rebellion sir henry clintons narrative of. Sailing for savannah, georgia, clinton planned to rendezvous with a force commanded by lieutenant colonel mark prevost and march overland to charleston, south carolina. Henry clinton article about henry clinton by the free. General sir henry clinton was a key british commander during the american revolution who oversaw the final british defeat in north america.

Henry clinton was the only son of george clinton, governor of colonial new york. Mar 26, 2015 general sir henry clinton, the american rebellion. The american rebellion sir henry clintons narrative of his. Letters from general sir henry clinton during the revolutionary war can be. The henry clinton papers contain the correspondence, records, and maps of henry clinton, who served under thomas gage and william howe between 1775 and 1778, and was commanderinchief of the british forces in north america from. Henry clinton was likely born in 1730 to admiral george clinton 16861761, at the time the governor of. 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. After the revolution, he published a narrative account of the war in an attempt to clear his name. George received a post as governor of new york in 1741 and when he departed for the colonies in 1743, henry accompanied his father.