After news of the Battle of Bunker Hill reached Pennsylvania in 1775, Thompson was appointed colonel of a rifle battalion and was sent to Massachusetts to help in the defense of Boston. His unit was known as Thompson's Pennsylvania Rifle Battalion, or the 1st Pennsylvania Regiment. After Thompson's company of Pennsylvania sharpshooters drove back a British landing-party on November 9, 1775, he was made a brigadier-general, to the displeasure of George Washington, who had reservations about Thompson's abilities.
Sent to reinforce American troops in Canada, Thompson was captured during an attack on the enemy at Trois-Rivières in Quebec on June 8, 1776. He was paroled, but not exchanged for four years, and so he could not reenter military service. Thompson blamed Congressman Thomas McKean for hindering his exchange; his criticism became so harsh that he was censured by Congress. McKean successfully sued Thompson for libel.
After finally being exchanged for Baron Riedesel, Thompson died at his home near Carlisle.
Thompson Street in the Greenwich Village and SoHo neighborhoods of Manhattan in New York City was named after General Thompson, as well as – originally – the adjacent Vesuvio Playground.[2]
Referencesedit
^History of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick and of the Hibernian Society for the Relief of Emigrants from Ireland: March 17, 1771-March 17, 1892.. Hibernian Society 1892 | John Hugh Campbell |pp. 44, 135-136.
^"The New York City Department of Parks and Recreation: Vesuvio Playground (Thompson Street Playground)"
Cumberland County PA Archives
Boatner, Mark Mayo, III. Encyclopedia of the American Revolution. New York: McKay, 1966; revised 1974. ISBN0-8117-0578-1.
Coterill, R. S. (July 1946). "The Thompson Expedition of 1773". Filson Club History Quarterly. 20 (3). Retrieved February 22, 2012.
Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774–1789. Monday, November 23, 1778. Censure of Thompson.
The Wild Geese Today: The Resurrection of Edward Hand. Irish-born soldier served Mike Flannery, George Washington and his adopted nation well
April 05, 2024
william, thompson, general, other, people, named, william, thompson, william, thompson, disambiguation, william, thompson, july, 1736, september, 1781, soldier, from, pennsylvania, served, colonel, later, brigadier, general, continental, army, during, american. For other people named William Thompson see William Thompson disambiguation William Thompson July 5 1736 September 3 1781 was a soldier from Pennsylvania who served as a colonel and later brigadier general in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War Thompson was born in Ireland and emigrated to Carlisle Pennsylvania During the French and Indian War Thompson served as a captain in the Kittanning Expedition under John Armstrong After news of the Battle of Bunker Hill reached Pennsylvania in 1775 Thompson was appointed colonel of a rifle battalion and was sent to Massachusetts to help in the defense of Boston His unit was known as Thompson s Pennsylvania Rifle Battalion or the 1st Pennsylvania Regiment After Thompson s company of Pennsylvania sharpshooters drove back a British landing party on November 9 1775 he was made a brigadier general to the displeasure of George Washington who had reservations about Thompson s abilities Sent to reinforce American troops in Canada Thompson was captured during an attack on the enemy at Trois Rivieres in Quebec on June 8 1776 He was paroled but not exchanged for four years and so he could not reenter military service Thompson blamed Congressman Thomas McKean for hindering his exchange his criticism became so harsh that he was censured by Congress McKean successfully sued Thompson for libel Thompson married Catherine Ross sister of George Ross signer of the Declaration of Independence for Pennsylvania While on parole in Philadelphia on December 17 1778 he became an early Member of the Friendly Sons of St Patrick 1 After finally being exchanged for Baron Riedesel Thompson died at his home near Carlisle Thompson Street in the Greenwich Village and SoHo neighborhoods of Manhattan in New York City was named after General Thompson as well as originally the adjacent Vesuvio Playground 2 References edit History of the Friendly Sons of St Patrick and of the Hibernian Society for the Relief of Emigrants from Ireland March 17 1771 March 17 1892 Hibernian Society 1892 John Hugh Campbell pp 44 135 136 The New York City Department of Parks and Recreation Vesuvio Playground Thompson Street Playground Cumberland County PA Archives Boatner Mark Mayo III Encyclopedia of the American Revolution New York McKay 1966 revised 1974 ISBN 0 8117 0578 1 Coterill R S July 1946 The Thompson Expedition of 1773 Filson Club History Quarterly 20 3 Retrieved February 22 2012 External links editWilliam Thompson at Find a Grave Journals of the Continental Congress 1774 1789 Monday November 23 1778 Censure of Thompson The Wild Geese Today The Resurrection of Edward Hand Irish born soldier served Mike Flannery George Washington and his adopted nation well Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title William Thompson general amp oldid 1174900840, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
