Before he became a great general, Henry Knox was a "regular" man who had a surprising background. Born on July 25, 1750, in Boston, Henry Knox was one of ten children; six of them did not survive. This proved that Knox was strong even as a young boy. When his father, a merchant, died, Henry was forced to support his family. He then taught himself how to publish books, and opened his own store by the age of twenty-one. An avid reader, he enjoyed the topic of military, and was facinated with artillary. He joined the local militia, which gave him experience in battle before the Revolution. Therefore, Henry Knox would be crucial to how the American Revolution was fought.
As the Revolution neared, Henry Knox joined in the Sons of Liberty and fought in the Boston Massacre. He also joined the Boston Grenadier Corps and married Lucy Flucker, a daughter of Tories, on June 16, 1774. Lucy herself was crucial to Henry's safety during the battle of Lexington and Concord by concealing his sword within her dress, to get past enemy lines. After this, on June 14, George Washington became the commander in chief of the Continental Army and saw Henry Knox in action. Knox had built two defense fortresses, and was praised by Washington himself. He had formed a brotherly relationship with George Washington, and devoted himself to serving in the Continental Army. Because of this relationship, Washington promoted Knox to the head of the artillary. Knox was skilled at this work, learning about it from a young age, and made a plan to transport fifty-nine guns and weapons 300 miles from Fort Ticonderoga to Boston. His plan worked; it took only 56 days to complete the journey in harsh winter weather and resulted in a victory.
Although the Patriots lost battles, one of Knox's roles, one that many people do not know was his, was to oversee the soldiers at the Battle of Trenton, also known as the crossing of the Delaware River. He obtained the supplies and equipment used for this journey. It was an extreme victory, not only strategically, but it boosted the confidence of the soldiers and made them re-enlist into the army. He was by Washington's side the entire time, and told the soldiers what to do. Without this, the soldiers would not have known anything. Henry Knox crossed the Delaware in record time, and his stratigic mind came in hand yet again. Later, at Valley Forge, he aided Baron von Steuben in training the troops. At Yorktown, Knox's guns were key to their victory, and he was promoted to Major General. He died on October 25, 1806, after accidentally swallowing a chicken bone three days prior. Without Henry Knox, America would not have won the Revolution, and would not have gained their independence from Britain.
Hickman, Kennedy. "Washington's Artilleryman: Major General Henry Knox." About.com Education. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Nov. 2015.
Silvey, Anita, and Wendell Minor. Henry Knox: Bookseller, Soldier, Patriot. Boston: Clarion, 2010. Print.
US Army: General Henry Knox, and New York State: General Henry Knox. "Washington's Artilleryman: Major General Henry Knox." About.com Education. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Nov. 2015.
As the Revolution neared, Henry Knox joined in the Sons of Liberty and fought in the Boston Massacre. He also joined the Boston Grenadier Corps and married Lucy Flucker, a daughter of Tories, on June 16, 1774. Lucy herself was crucial to Henry's safety during the battle of Lexington and Concord by concealing his sword within her dress, to get past enemy lines. After this, on June 14, George Washington became the commander in chief of the Continental Army and saw Henry Knox in action. Knox had built two defense fortresses, and was praised by Washington himself. He had formed a brotherly relationship with George Washington, and devoted himself to serving in the Continental Army. Because of this relationship, Washington promoted Knox to the head of the artillary. Knox was skilled at this work, learning about it from a young age, and made a plan to transport fifty-nine guns and weapons 300 miles from Fort Ticonderoga to Boston. His plan worked; it took only 56 days to complete the journey in harsh winter weather and resulted in a victory.
Although the Patriots lost battles, one of Knox's roles, one that many people do not know was his, was to oversee the soldiers at the Battle of Trenton, also known as the crossing of the Delaware River. He obtained the supplies and equipment used for this journey. It was an extreme victory, not only strategically, but it boosted the confidence of the soldiers and made them re-enlist into the army. He was by Washington's side the entire time, and told the soldiers what to do. Without this, the soldiers would not have known anything. Henry Knox crossed the Delaware in record time, and his stratigic mind came in hand yet again. Later, at Valley Forge, he aided Baron von Steuben in training the troops. At Yorktown, Knox's guns were key to their victory, and he was promoted to Major General. He died on October 25, 1806, after accidentally swallowing a chicken bone three days prior. Without Henry Knox, America would not have won the Revolution, and would not have gained their independence from Britain.
Hickman, Kennedy. "Washington's Artilleryman: Major General Henry Knox." About.com Education. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Nov. 2015.
Silvey, Anita, and Wendell Minor. Henry Knox: Bookseller, Soldier, Patriot. Boston: Clarion, 2010. Print.
US Army: General Henry Knox, and New York State: General Henry Knox. "Washington's Artilleryman: Major General Henry Knox." About.com Education. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Nov. 2015.