William Thompson

Background

Thompson was born in Ireland in 1736.

Career

During the French and Indian war, he was commissioned captain of a troop of horse and participated in the expedition led by John Armstrong, 1717-1795, against Kittanning. He took part in the work of settling the western boundary of Pennsylvania and in locating lands granted by the king to officers serving in the war.

On July 12, 1774, at a meeting of the free-holders from several townships of Cumberland County, called to denounce the closing of the port of Boston, he was elected member of a committee of correspondence; and later, in May 1775, he served upon the provincial committee of safety. When the news of the battle of Bunker Hill reached Pennsylvania, he was placed in command of a battalion of riflemen raised in the southeastern counties, designated at first as the 2nd Pennsylvania Regiment but later as the 16t Continental Infantry. Marching promptly to Boston, it won credit as the first body of men to reach that point from the South. It constituted a crack corps, the privates being unusually "stout and hardy; many of them exceeding six feet and remarkable for the accuracy of their aim. " They were dressed in "white frocks, or rifle shirts, and round hats". During the siege they were posted on Prospect Hill. On November 9, 1775, they repulsed an attack upon Lechmere Point, for which Thompson was thanked by Washington in general orders.

On March 1, 1776, he was promoted to the rank of brigadier-general and was presently ordered to Canada in charge of a detachment of about 2, 000 men, comprising the regiments of Poor, Paterson, Greaton, and Bond. General Sullivan, commanding the American forces on the St. Lawrence, directed him to attack Three Rivers. On the night of June 7, he crossed the stream a few miles above the town, hoping to surprise the foe at dawn, but owing to the treachery of a guide, his men got lost in a swamp and were repulsed while he was made prisoner. On October 25, 1780, he was exchanged for Baron Riedesel.

Prior to this, however, he was placed on parole and returned to Pennsylvania. Here he became involved in a controversy with Thomas McKean, then serving as a member of Congress, whom he accused of hindering his exchange. He submitted a memorial to Congress in which he referred to McKean in such opprobrious terms that, on November 23, 1778, that body voted that he was "guilty of an insult to the honor and dignity of this house, and of a breach of privilege". He was summoned before Congress and tendered an apology. McKean sued him for libel and was awarded £5, 700 damages, which he released, since he only desired to see the law and the facts settled.

Thompson died and was buried in Carlisle. His energy, fearlessness, and pugnacity admirably qualified him to occupy high command in an army whose plight was often desperate.

Achievements

• He is remembered as an American Revolutionary War Brigadier General.

Membership

While on parole in Philadelphia on December 17, 1778 he became an early Member of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick.

Connections

Thompson married Katherine Ross daughter of George Ross, signer of the Declaration of Independence for Pennsylvania.

Spouse:

Katherine Ross