John Nixon (Massachusetts)
Encyclopedia
John Nixon was an American brigadier general
in the Continental Army
during the American Revolutionary War
.
He was born in Framingham, Massachusetts
on March 1, 1724 to Christopher and Mary Nixon. On February 7, 1754, John Nixon married Thankfully Berry also of Framingham. In 1755 he served in the Massachusetts militia
during Sir William Johnson's campaign against the French
during the French and Indian War
.
In 1775 Nixon had moved to Sudbury, Massachusetts
and was a Captain of the town's Minutemen
whom he led at the Battles of Lexington and Concord
. He and his men fought at Bunker Hill
on June 17, 1775, his unit was one of the last to leave the field. After the battle Nixon was promoted to Colonel
of the 6th Massachusetts Regiment
. Col. Nixon's regiment
was placed into Gen. John Sullivan
's brigade
and took part in the New York and New Jersey campaign
during 1776. On January 1, 1777, Nixon was given the rank of Brigadier General and would command a brigade in the Saratoga Campaign
. Gen. Nixon's brigade consisted of the 3rd
, 5th
, 6th
and 7th Massachusetts Regiment
s and reinforced by Cogswell's Regiment of Militia
, Gage's Regiment of Militia
and May's Regiment of Militia
before the battle of Battle of Bemis Heights in October of 1777. His brigade took part in the final assault; during this assault a cannon ball passed so close to his head that his sight and hearing were affected the rest of his life. Nixon resigned his commission September 12, 1780.
General John Nixon moved to Middlebury, Vermont in 1806 and died there on March 24, 1815.
General John Nixon Elementary School in Sudbury, Massachusetts
is named in his honor, as is Nixon Road in Framingham, Massachusetts.
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...
.
He was born in Framingham, Massachusetts
Framingham, Massachusetts
Framingham is a New England town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 68,318 as of the United States 2010 Census. -History:...
on March 1, 1724 to Christopher and Mary Nixon. On February 7, 1754, John Nixon married Thankfully Berry also of Framingham. In 1755 he served 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...
during Sir William Johnson's campaign against the French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
during the French and Indian War
French and Indian War
The French and Indian War is the common American name for the war between Great Britain and France in North America from 1754 to 1763. In 1756, the war erupted into the world-wide conflict known as the Seven Years' War and thus came to be regarded as the North American theater of that war...
.
In 1775 Nixon had moved to Sudbury, Massachusetts
Sudbury, Massachusetts
Sudbury is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, population 17,659. The town was incorporated in 1639, with the original boundaries including what is now Wayland. Wayland split from Sudbury in 1780. When first incorporated, it included and parts of Framingham, Marlborough, Stow...
and was a Captain of the town's Minutemen
Minutemen
Minutemen were members of teams of select men from the American colonial partisan militia during the American Revolutionary War. They provided a highly mobile, rapidly deployed force that allowed the colonies to respond immediately to war threats, hence the name.The minutemen were among the first...
whom he led at the Battles of Lexington and Concord
Battles of Lexington and Concord
The Battles of Lexington and Concord were the first military engagements of the American Revolutionary War. They were fought on April 19, 1775, in Middlesex County, Province of Massachusetts Bay, within the towns of Lexington, Concord, Lincoln, Menotomy , and Cambridge, near Boston...
. He and his men fought at Bunker Hill
Battle of Bunker Hill
The Battle of Bunker Hill took place on June 17, 1775, mostly on and around Breed's Hill, during the Siege of Boston early in the American Revolutionary War...
on June 17, 1775, his unit was one of the last to leave the field. After the battle Nixon was promoted to 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...
of the 6th Massachusetts Regiment
6th Massachusetts Regiment
The 6th Massachusetts Regiment also known as the 4th Continental Regiment was raised on April 23, 1775 under Colonel John Nixon outside of Boston, Massachusetts. The regiment would see action at the Battle of Bunker Hill, New York Campaign, Battle of Trenton, Battle of Princeton and the Battle of...
. Col. Nixon's regiment
Regiment
A regiment is a major tactical military unit, composed of variable numbers of batteries, squadrons or battalions, commanded by a colonel or lieutenant colonel...
was placed into Gen. John Sullivan
John Sullivan
John Sullivan was the third son of Irish immigrants, a United States general in the Revolutionary War, a delegate in the Continental Congress and a United States federal judge....
's brigade
Brigade
A brigade is a major tactical military formation that is typically composed of two to five battalions, plus supporting elements depending on the era and nationality of a given army and could be perceived as an enlarged/reinforced regiment...
and took part in the New York and New Jersey 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...
during 1776. On January 1, 1777, Nixon was given the rank of Brigadier General and would command a brigade in the 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...
. Gen. Nixon's brigade consisted of the 3rd
3rd Massachusetts Regiment
The 3rd Massachusetts Regiment also known as the 24th Continental Regiment was raised, on April 23, 1775, under Colonel William Heath outside of Boston, Massachusetts. The regiment would see action at the Battle of Bunker Hill, Battle of Trois-Rivières, Battle of Valcour Island and the Battle of...
, 5th
5th Massachusetts Regiment
The 5th Massachusetts Regiment also known as the 27th Continental Regiment was raised on April 23, 1775 under Colonel Mansfield outside of Boston, Massachusetts. The regiment saw action at the Battle of Bunker Hill, New York Campaign, Battle of Trenton, Battle of Princeton...
, 6th
6th Massachusetts Regiment
The 6th Massachusetts Regiment also known as the 4th Continental Regiment was raised on April 23, 1775 under Colonel John Nixon outside of Boston, Massachusetts. The regiment would see action at the Battle of Bunker Hill, New York Campaign, Battle of Trenton, Battle of Princeton and the Battle of...
and 7th Massachusetts Regiment
7th Massachusetts Regiment
The 7th Massachusetts Regiment, constituted on 16 September 1776 and originally known as Alden's Regiment from its first colonel, Ichabod Alden was an infantry regiment of the Continental Army...
s and reinforced by Cogswell's Regiment of Militia
Cogswell's Regiment of Militia
Cogswell's Regiment of Militia also known as the 3rd Essex County Militia Regiment was called up at Ipswich, Massachusetts on April 19, 1775, during the Battles of Lexington and Concord and to guard the Massachusetts coast from July 1775 to January 1776...
, Gage's Regiment of Militia
Gage's Regiment of Militia
Gage's Regiment of Militia also known as the 4th Essex County Militia Regiment was called up at Bradford, Massachusetts on October 2, 1777 as reinforcements for the Continental Army during the Saratoga campaign. The regiment marched quickly to join the gathering forces of General Horatio Gates as...
and May's Regiment of Militia
May's Regiment of Militia
May's Regiment of Militia also known as the 2nd Hampshire County Militia Regiment was called up at Southampton, Massachusetts on September 20, 1777 as reinforcements for the Continental Army during the Saratoga Campaign. The regiment marched quickly to join the gathering forces of Gen. Horatio...
before the battle of Battle of Bemis Heights in October of 1777. His brigade took part in the final assault; during this assault a cannon ball passed so close to his head that his sight and hearing were affected the rest of his life. Nixon resigned his commission September 12, 1780.
General John Nixon moved to Middlebury, Vermont in 1806 and died there on March 24, 1815.
General John Nixon Elementary School in Sudbury, Massachusetts
Sudbury, Massachusetts
Sudbury is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, population 17,659. The town was incorporated in 1639, with the original boundaries including what is now Wayland. Wayland split from Sudbury in 1780. When first incorporated, it included and parts of Framingham, Marlborough, Stow...
is named in his honor, as is Nixon Road in Framingham, Massachusetts.