Log in to Webshots

Login

Henry Knox ~ The Father of American Artillery

clarkth (Premium member) > albums > U.S. Army Field Artillery Museum ~ ...

Get Adobe Flash player

Connect with Facebook to Continue

Hello, facebook user. logout

You are signed in to your Facebook account. Share this photo by posting it on your wall, or by choosing a friend below and posting it on their wall. (one friend at a time)

Album Info:

When General George Washington assumed command of the Continental Army outside Boston on 3 July 1775, his artillery consisted of only a handful of oddly assorted cannon led by several experienced but elderly officers. Following a disastrous performance at Breed's (Bunker) Hill, Washington appointed a 25 year old Boston bookseller, Henry Knox, Chief of the Artillery on 17 November 1775. Knox, an entirely self taught artilleryman had impressed the commander with his ingenuity, determination and knowledge of artillery. This was the beginning of a long and very successful relationship for the two patriot leaders. Henry Knox was born in Boston on July 25, 1750. He left school at the age of 12 to apprentice to a bookbinder and help support his widowed mother and younger brother. By the age of 21 he had opened his own bookshop in Boston. He was fascinated by military subjects, especially artillery and read everything he could find on the subject. Knox was an early supporter of the patriot cause and was at the Boston Massacre. In 1772 Knox co-founded a local militia company, the Boston Grenadier Corps. He married Lucy Flurker, the daughter of the Royal Secretary of Massachusetts and staunch Loyalist in 1774 and they had a long and happy marriage. Henry Knox and George Washington first met on July 5, 1775 at the Roxbury fortifications that Knox had designed. Washington was impressed and pleased with Knox's abilities. Knox was appointed Colonel and Chief of Artillery on November 17,1775. Following the great success of his Fort Ticonderoga mission during the winter of 1775-76, Colonel Knox directed construction of fortifications in Connecticut and Rhode Island. Be was in charge of Washington's crossing of the Delaware River before the Battle of Trenton. Following this second great accomplishment, Knox was promoted to brigadier general. Throughout the rest of the war, Knox continued to enlarge, train and improve the Continental Artillery. He established the Springfield Arsenal for the production of arms and ammunition. Knox fought at the battles of Princeton, Brandywine, Monmouth and, finally Yorktown. After British General Cornwallis' surrender at Yorktown in 1781, Knox was promoted to major general. After the war Knox served in the army until June 1784 as its most senior officer. He became the first secretary of war in 1785 establishing a regular Navy, a series of coastal fortifications and a national militia force. Knox argued for fair dealings with the Native Americans, believing the tribes should be treated as sovereign foreign nations. He retired from public service in 1795 and moved to Montpelier near Thomaston, Maine. He was involved in agriculture, timber, and brick making as well as becoming a local community leader. He died in 1804.

Sample Email

Below is what we'll send to your friends to invite them - edit or remove the optional note.

No comments so far...

To be able to leave a comment please Log in or Sign up.