Richard Montgomery

Richard Montgomery (December 2, 1736 – December 31, 1775) was an Irish-American soldier who served as a Brigadier General in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War.

Related Topics:
December 2 - 1736 - December 31 - 1775 - Irish - American - Soldier - Brigadier General - Continental Army - Revolutionary War

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

He was born in Swords, County Dublin, Ireland, the son of Thomas Montgomery (a member of Parliament) and Mary Franklin Montgomery.

Related Topics:
County Dublin - Ireland - Parliament

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

He was an officer in the British Army in the Seven Years' War. His service was in Canada and the Caribbean. He reached the rank of captain in May 1762. In 1763, when peace was concluded, he went to New York, and in 1765 returned to England.

Related Topics:
British Army - Seven Years' War - Canada - Caribbean - 1762 - 1763 - New York - 1765 - England

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In England he associated with liberal members of Parliament who supported the colonists in their demands for more freedom.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

On April 6, 1772, he sold his Army commission and decided to move back to New York, buying a sixty-seven acre (270,000 m²) farm at King's Bridge in what is now the Borough of The Bronx of New York City.

Related Topics:
April 6 - 1772 - Borough - Bronx - New York City

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

On July 24, 1773, he married Janet Livingston, daughter of Robert R. Livingston, a prominent New Yorker who was on the committee that drafted the Declaration of Independence. He then moved to his wife's farm near Rhinebeck, which was to be his home for the few remaining years of his life. In 1775, although having resided in New York only three years, he was elected to the New York provincial legislature.

Related Topics:
July 24 - 1773 - Robert R. Livingston - Declaration of Independence - Rhinebeck - 1775 - Legislature

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

He served as the second-ranking Brigadier General in the American Revolutionary War, led the army into Canada (Invasion of Canada) where he captured two forts and the city of Montreal, and died while attempting to capture the city of Quebec during a fierce snow storm on the 31 of December 1775. The British recognized his body and ordered a honourable burial. In 1818, his body was moved to New York City and interred at St. Pauls Church.

Related Topics:
American Revolutionary War - Invasion of Canada - Montreal - Attempting to capture - Quebec - 1818 - New York City

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~