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People of the Revolutionary War | Patriots of the American Revolution | Benjamin Lincoln
Benjamin Lincoln
BENJAMIN LINCOLN
Charles Willson Peale, from life, c. 1781-1783
1733-1810
Lincoln was born on January 24, 1733 in Hingham, Massachusetts. He attended local schools, and then
established his own farm. Elected town clerk in 1757, he gradually became prominent in the colony's
militia and politics. By 1772, he had achieved the rank of lieutenant colonel and had been elected
to the colonial legislature. He later served as the secretary of the provincial assembly that replaced
the colonial legislature in defiance of the Boston Port Bill. In 1776, he received a militia command
in the defense of New York, and although Lincoln held no Congressional commission, Washington gave
him the command of a Continental division. In early 1777, he went to Morristown and then assumed
command of the entire New England militia. With these troops, he disrupted British supply lines and
participated in the Continental victory at Saratoga, where he was badly wounded. He rejoined the army
as commander of the southern campaign in September 1778. Following a year of minor skirmishes, the
British defeated Lincoln, captured him and his army, and conquered Charleston. He was exchanged in
late 1780. After his release, he commanded a division during the Continental victory at Yorktown.
Lincoln left active field duty after Yorktown. He served as Secretary of War from late 1781 until
late 1783. After a brief and financially disastrous period, he commanded the Massachusetts troops
sent to end Shays's Rebellion. Later, he worked for the ratification of the Constitution in his state
and served for one year as its lieutenant governor. Later, he was appointed Collector of the Port of
Boston. Lincoln died on May 9, 1810.
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