Background
Prévost was born to a French Huguenot family that was originally from Poitou, France.
Prévost was born to a French Huguenot family that was originally from Poitou, France.
He fought in the French and Indian War, during which he suffered a wound. By the summer of 1776, Prévost, then a colonel, was in charge of a contingent of the 60th stationed in Saint Augustine, the capital of British East Florida. In the winter of 1778, following a proposal of Lord George Germain, Prévost, now a brigadier-general, was given orders by General Sir Henry Clinton to invade Georgia.
Prévost arrived at Savannah, Georgia, on 17 January 1779 which was protected by British Lieutenant-Colonel Archibald Campbell.
Prévost assumed command but also sent the message to General Clinton that he wished to resign, believing that a younger man should take his place. In September 1779 Brigadier General George Garth was sent to replace him, travelling from New York on HMS Experiment.
Major Prevost retired to manage his wife"s family estate (Croghan Estates) and died as a citizen of the United States. Descendents of Prévost settled in the United States and Peru.
Garth was, however, captured before he could reach Savannah and Prévost remained to defend the town from a combined French and Continental force in an action that came to be known as the Siege of Savannah.
