Henry Jackson (general)
Encyclopedia
Born in Boston, Massachusetts, on 19 October 1747, Henry Jackson was the youngest son of Joseph and Susannah (Gray) Jackson. Before the War for Independence, he was an officer of the First Corps of Cadets
in Boston, which was disbanded during the British occupation. After the evacuation, six former cadet officers organized a company of seventy-eight officers and men called the Boston Independent Company on 17 March 1776, with Henry Jackson as their commander. In January 1777, the unit was taken into Continental service, designated the 16th Massachusetts Regiment
, with Jackson at the head with the rank of Colonel
. He led his regiment in the Philadelphia campaign
of 1777, at Monmouth
and Rhode Island
in 1778, and at Springfield
, New Jersey
in 1780.
Jackson's Additional Continental regiment was disbanded in 1781 and Jackson was transferred to command the 4th Massachusetts Regiment
. He was promoted to Brevet Brigadier-General, 30 September 1783 and led Continental forces
into New York City
on the heels of the British evacuation in November. He was retained as Commander the 1st American Regiment (1783-1784)
, which was the only infantry
unit in commission after the dissolution of the Continental Army. Jackson left the regular service on 20 June 1784 when the standing army had been reduced to a handful of soldiers.
He later served as a Major General
in the Massachusetts militia
from 1792 until 1796 and was the agent supervising the building of the frigate Constitution at Boston in 1797.
He was a lifelong close friend of Major-General Henry Knox
, and acted as his agent in his business affairs (particularly those concerning Knox's vast land holdings in Maine
) while the General was Secretary of War. Other close associates included Hepzibah Swan
of Boston, in whose household Jackson lived for some years.
Henry was an original member of the Massachusetts Society of the Cincinnati
from 1783 until his death in 1809. Unmarried, he died in Boston on 4 January 1809.
First Corps of Cadets (Massachusetts)
The First Corps of Cadets of Massachusetts formed in 1741. Its motto is Monstrat Viam - "It Points the Way." While it has served in several wars, the sub-unit's primary contribution to Massachusetts and to the United States was as an officer-producing institution for new regiments from the...
in Boston, which was disbanded during the British occupation. After the evacuation, six former cadet officers organized a company of seventy-eight officers and men called the Boston Independent Company on 17 March 1776, with Henry Jackson as their commander. In January 1777, the unit was taken into Continental service, designated the 16th Massachusetts Regiment
16th Massachusetts Regiment
The 16th Massachusetts Regiment also known as Henry Jackson's Additional Continental Regiment was raised on January 12, 1777 under Colonel Jackson at Boston, Massachusetts. The regiment would see action at the Battle of Monmouth and the Battle of Rhode Island...
, with Jackson at the head with the rank of Colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
. He led his regiment in the Philadelphia campaign
Philadelphia campaign
The Philadelphia campaign was a British initiative in the American Revolutionary War to gain control of Philadelphia, which was then the seat of the Second Continental Congress...
of 1777, at Monmouth
Battle of Monmouth
The Battle of Monmouth was an American Revolutionary War battle fought on June 28, 1778 in Monmouth County, New Jersey. The Continental Army under General George Washington attacked the rear of the British Army column commanded by Lieutenant General Sir Henry Clinton as they left Monmouth Court...
and Rhode Island
Battle of Rhode Island
The Battle of Rhode Island, also known as the Battle of Quaker Hill and the Siege of Newport, took place on August 29, 1778. Continental Army and militia forces under the command of General John Sullivan were withdrawing to the northern part of Aquidneck Island after abandoning their siege of...
in 1778, and at Springfield
Battle of Springfield (1780)
The Battle of Springfield was fought during the American Revolutionary War on June 23, 1780. After the Battle of Connecticut Farms, on June 7, 1780, had foiled Lieutenant General Wilhelm, Baron von Knyphausen’s expedition to attack General George Washington’s army at Morristown, New Jersey,...
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
in 1780.
Jackson's Additional Continental regiment was disbanded in 1781 and Jackson was transferred to command the 4th Massachusetts Regiment
4th Massachusetts Regiment
The 4th Massachusetts Regiment also known as 3rd Continental Regiment was raised on April 23, 1775 under Colonel Ebenezer Learned outside of Boston, Massachusetts. The regiment would see action at the Battle of Bunker Hill, New York Campaign, Battle of Trenton, Battle of Princeton, Battle of...
. He was promoted to Brevet Brigadier-General, 30 September 1783 and led Continental forces
Continental Army
The Continental Army was formed after the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War by the colonies that became the United States of America. Established by a resolution of the Continental Congress on June 14, 1775, it was created to coordinate the military efforts of the Thirteen Colonies in...
into New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
on the heels of the British evacuation in November. He was retained as Commander the 1st American Regiment (1783-1784)
1st American Regiment (1783-1784)
1st American Regiment, also known as Jackson's Continental Regiment of 1783-1784, was the last unit in the Continental Army, retained after the close of the American Revolutionary War...
, which was the only infantry
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
unit in commission after the dissolution of the Continental Army. Jackson left the regular service on 20 June 1784 when the standing army had been reduced to a handful of soldiers.
He later served as a Major General
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
in the Massachusetts militia
Massachusetts militia
Militia of the Colony and later Commonwealth of Massachusetts.-List of Massachusetts militia units of the American Revolution:*Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of Massachusetts *Cogswell's Regiment of Militia...
from 1792 until 1796 and was the agent supervising the building of the frigate Constitution at Boston in 1797.
He was a lifelong close friend of Major-General Henry Knox
Henry Knox
Henry Knox was a military officer of the Continental Army and later the United States Army, and also served as the first United States Secretary of War....
, and acted as his agent in his business affairs (particularly those concerning Knox's vast land holdings in Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
) while the General was Secretary of War. Other close associates included Hepzibah Swan
Hepzibah Swan
Hepzibah Swan lived in Boston, Massachusetts in the late 18th century/early 19th century. She was prominent in the social life of Federal-era Boston. Lifelong friends included revolutionary war heroes Henry Knox and Henry Jackson....
of Boston, in whose household Jackson lived for some years.
Henry was an original member of the Massachusetts Society of the Cincinnati
Society of the Cincinnati
The Society of the Cincinnati is a historical organization with branches in the United States and France founded in 1783 to preserve the ideals and fellowship of the American Revolutionary War officers and to pressure the government to honor pledges it had made to officers who fought for American...
from 1783 until his death in 1809. Unmarried, he died in Boston on 4 January 1809.