John Glover (general)
Encyclopedia
John Glover was an American
fisherman, merchant, and military leader from Marblehead, Massachusetts
, who served as a Brigadier General
in the Continental Army
during the American Revolutionary War
.
, the son of a house carpenter. His father died when he was four years old, and shortly thereafter his family moved to the nearby town of Marblehead. As a young man, Glover became a cordwainer
and rum trader and eventually a ship owner and merchant. He married Hannah Gale in October 1754.
Following the Boston Massacre
in 1770, Committees of Correspondence
were formed. Marblehead elected Glover along with future revolutionists Elbridge Gerry
and Azore Orne to committee posts. After the First Continental Congress
passed the non-importation agreements sanctioning trade with the British, Glover was elected to enforce the embargo as a member of the committee of inspection.
Glover was active in the militia for many years before the Revolution, with his earliest service dating back to 1759. In 1775 he was elected lieutenant colonel of the 21st Massachusetts Regiment from Marblehead, and became commander of the unit after the death of Colonel Jeremiah Lee in April 1775. Glover marched his regiment to join the siege of Boston
in June 1775. At Boston, General George Washington
chartered Glover's schooner Hannah
to raid British supply vessels, the first of many privateer
s authorized by Washington. For this reason the Hannah has been called the first vessel of the United States Navy
.
The Marblehead militia or "Glover's Regiment" became the 14th Continental Regiment
. This regiment became known as the "amphibious regiment" for their vital nautical skills. It was composed almost entirely of fishermen. After Washington lost the Battle of Long Island
in August 1776, Glover's Marbleheaders evacuated the army to Manhattan in a surprise nighttime operation, saving them from being entrapped. In subsequent actions of the New York campaign
the regiment fought well against the British at Kip's Bay and Pell's Point
. The last action of the regiment was its most famous: ferrying Washington's army across the Delaware River for a surprise attack at Trenton
in December 1776. The regiment was disbanded as enlistments expired at year's end.
Glover went home to tend to his sick wife and look to business affairs. He turned down a promotion to brigadier general in February 1777, but rejoined the war after a personal appeal from General Washington. He served in the successful Saratoga campaign
in 1777 and the failed Battle of Rhode Island
in 1778. He was stationed along the Hudson River
for the remainder of the war, guarding against British moves up the river from NYC.
, after contracting hepatitis
and was buried in Old Burial Hill (Marblehead, Massachusetts)
.
, as its prime proprietor, in honor of his service. The frigate USS Glover
is named for him. Glover's Rock
in the Bronx is a memorial to him and Glover School
in Marblehead was named after him in 1916. There is a statue of General John Glover on Commonwealth Avenue
in Boston
. The General John Glover House
is located in Marblehead. Glover Field in Pelham, New York
is named for him.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
fisherman, merchant, and military leader from Marblehead, Massachusetts
Marblehead, Massachusetts
Marblehead is a town in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 19,808 at the 2010 census. It is home to the Marblehead Neck Wildlife Sanctuary and Devereux Beach...
, who served as a Brigadier General
Brigadier General
Brigadier general is a senior rank in the armed forces. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries, usually sitting between the ranks of colonel and major general. When appointed to a field command, a brigadier general is typically in command of a brigade consisting of around 4,000...
in the Continental Army
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...
during the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
.
Early life
Glover was born in Salem, MassachusettsSalem, Massachusetts
Salem is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 40,407 at the 2000 census. It and Lawrence are the county seats of Essex County...
, the son of a house carpenter. His father died when he was four years old, and shortly thereafter his family moved to the nearby town of Marblehead. As a young man, Glover became a cordwainer
Cordwainer
A cordwainer is a shoemaker/cobbler who makes fine soft leather shoes and other luxury footwear articles. The word is derived from "cordwain", or "cordovan", the leather produced in Córdoba, Spain. The term cordwainer was used as early as 1100 in England...
and rum trader and eventually a ship owner and merchant. He married Hannah Gale in October 1754.
Following the Boston Massacre
Boston Massacre
The Boston Massacre, called the Boston Riot by the British, was an incident on March 5, 1770, in which British Army soldiers killed five civilian men. British troops had been stationed in Boston, capital of the Province of Massachusetts Bay, since 1768 in order to protect and support...
in 1770, Committees of Correspondence
Committee of correspondence
The Committees of Correspondence were shadow governments organized by the Patriot leaders of the Thirteen Colonies on the eve of American Revolution. They coordinated responses to Britain and shared their plans; by 1773 they had emerged as shadow governments, superseding the colonial legislature...
were formed. Marblehead elected Glover along with future revolutionists Elbridge Gerry
Elbridge Gerry
Elbridge Thomas Gerry was an American statesman and diplomat. As a Democratic-Republican he was selected as the fifth Vice President of the United States , serving under James Madison, until his death a year and a half into his term...
and Azore Orne to committee posts. After the First Continental Congress
First Continental Congress
The First Continental Congress was a convention of delegates from twelve of the thirteen North American colonies that met on September 5, 1774, at Carpenters' Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, early in the American Revolution. It was called in response to the passage of the Coercive Acts by the...
passed the non-importation agreements sanctioning trade with the British, Glover was elected to enforce the embargo as a member of the committee of inspection.
Military career
Siege of Boston
The Siege of Boston was the opening phase of the American Revolutionary War, in which New England militiamen—who later became part of the Continental Army—surrounded the town of Boston, Massachusetts, to prevent movement by the British Army garrisoned within...
in June 1775. At Boston, General George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
chartered Glover's schooner Hannah
USS Hannah (1775)
The schooner Hannah was the first armed American naval vessel of the American Revolution and is claimed to be the founding vessel of the United States Navy. She was owned by John Glover's in-laws of Marblehead, Massachusetts and was named for his wife, Hannah Glover...
to raid British supply vessels, the first of many privateer
Privateer
A privateer is a private person or ship authorized by a government by letters of marque to attack foreign shipping during wartime. Privateering was a way of mobilizing armed ships and sailors without having to spend public money or commit naval officers...
s authorized by Washington. For this reason the Hannah has been called the first vessel of the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
.
14th Continental Regiment
The 14th Continental Regiment, also known as the Marblehead Regiment and Glover's Regiment, was raised as a Massachusetts militia regiment in 1775, and taken into the Continental Army establishment during the summer of 1775 as the 23rd Massachusetts Regiment. When the Continental Army was...
. This regiment became known as the "amphibious regiment" for their vital nautical skills. It was composed almost entirely of fishermen. After Washington lost the Battle of Long Island
Battle of Long Island
The Battle of Long Island, also known as the Battle of Brooklyn or the Battle of Brooklyn Heights, fought on August 27, 1776, was the first major battle in the American Revolutionary War following the United States Declaration of Independence, the largest battle of the entire conflict, and the...
in August 1776, Glover's Marbleheaders evacuated the army to Manhattan in a surprise nighttime operation, saving them from being entrapped. In subsequent actions of the New York campaign
New York and New Jersey campaign
The New York and New Jersey campaign was a series of battles for control of New York City and the state of New Jersey in the American Revolutionary War between British forces under General Sir William Howe and the Continental Army under General George Washington in 1776 and the winter months of 1777...
the regiment fought well against the British at Kip's Bay and Pell's Point
Battle of Pell's Point
The Battle of Pell's Point , also known as the Battle of Pelham, was a skirmish fought between British and American troops during the New York and New Jersey campaign of the American Revolutionary War...
. The last action of the regiment was its most famous: ferrying Washington's army across the Delaware River for a surprise attack at Trenton
Battle of Trenton
The Battle of Trenton took place on December 26, 1776, during the American Revolutionary War, after General George Washington's crossing of the Delaware River north of Trenton, New Jersey. The hazardous crossing in adverse weather made it possible for Washington to lead the main body of the...
in December 1776. The regiment was disbanded as enlistments expired at year's end.
Glover went home to tend to his sick wife and look to business affairs. He turned down a promotion to brigadier general in February 1777, but rejoined the war after a personal appeal from General Washington. He served in the successful Saratoga campaign
Saratoga campaign
The Saratoga Campaign was an attempt by Great Britain to gain military control of the strategically important Hudson River valley in 1777 during the American Revolutionary War...
in 1777 and the failed Battle of 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. He was stationed along the Hudson River
Hudson River
The Hudson is a river that flows from north to south through eastern New York. The highest official source is at Lake Tear of the Clouds, on the slopes of Mount Marcy in the Adirondack Mountains. The river itself officially begins in Henderson Lake in Newcomb, New York...
for the remainder of the war, guarding against British moves up the river from NYC.
Later life
Hannah, Glover's first wife, died in 1778. He married again in 1781 to Frances Fosdick. He retired from the army in 1782 in poor health. Failing to secure a job with the U.S. federal government, he served in various local offices in his remaining years. He died at age 64 in Marblehead, MassachusettsMarblehead, Massachusetts
Marblehead is a town in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 19,808 at the 2010 census. It is home to the Marblehead Neck Wildlife Sanctuary and Devereux Beach...
, after contracting hepatitis
Hepatitis
Hepatitis is a medical condition defined by the inflammation of the liver and characterized by the presence of inflammatory cells in the tissue of the organ. The name is from the Greek hepar , the root being hepat- , meaning liver, and suffix -itis, meaning "inflammation"...
and was buried in Old Burial Hill (Marblehead, Massachusetts)
Old Burial Hill (Marblehead, Massachusetts)
Old Burial Hill is an historic cemetery in Marblehead, Massachusetts. It is located on the high ground between Marblehead's colonial-era residential and retail district, called "Downtown" by longtime residents and "Old Town" by others, and the Barnegat neighborhood that stretches from Little...
.
Memorials
Various things have been named in his honor. On November 20, 1783, he was awarded the charter for the town of Glover, VermontGlover, Vermont
Glover is a town in Orleans County, Vermont, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the town population was 966. It contains two unincorporated villages, Glover and West Glover....
, as its prime proprietor, in honor of his service. The frigate USS Glover
USS Glover (FF-1098)
USS Glover was a originally modified for research use and commissioned as on 3 November 1965, with Commander William W. Wilson in command. Glover was laid down 29 July 1963 by the Bath Iron Works, in Bath, Maine and launched on 17 April 1965 with sponsors Mrs. William S. Pederson, Sr., and Mrs....
is named for him. Glover's Rock
Glover's Rock
Glover's Rock is a large granite glacial erratic in Pelham Bay Park, The Bronx, New York.The giant rock has a bronze plaque commemorating the American Revolutionary War Battle of Pell's Point. Colonel John Glover reputedly stood on the rock and watched the British forces land during the battle...
in the Bronx is a memorial to him and Glover School
Glover School
Glover School is a public elementary school on Maple Street in Marblehead, Massachusetts, USA. It educates around 250 students in grades K-3. The school consists of two buildings situated on a hilly site.-History:...
in Marblehead was named after him in 1916. There is a statue of General John Glover on Commonwealth Avenue
Commonwealth Avenue, Boston
Commonwealth Avenue is a major street in the cities of Boston and Newton, Massachusetts. It begins at the western edge of the Public Garden, and continues west through the neighborhoods of the Back Bay, Kenmore Square, Allston, Brighton and Chestnut Hill...
in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
. The General John Glover House
General John Glover House
General John Glover House is a National Historic Landmark at 11 Glover Street in Marblehead, Massachusetts.The house was built in 1762 as the home of General John Glover. The house was added to the National Historic Register in 1972....
is located in Marblehead. Glover Field in Pelham, New York
Pelham, New York
Pelham, New York is the name of two locations in Westchester County, New York:*Pelham , New York, the Town of Pelham*Pelham Manor , New York, the Village of Pelham Manor*Pelham , New York, the Village of Pelham...
is named for him.