Richard Humpton
Richard Humpton (1733 – 1804) was born in Yorkshire, England of parents Richard Humpton and Dorothy Grindall. He purchased a captain's commission in the Royal Army and fought in the Raid on St Malo during the Seven Years' War. While posted in the West Indies, he resigned his commission and moved to the Susquehanna River in Pennsylvania. At the beginning of the American Revolutionary War he offered his services to the patriot cause and was named a lieutenant colonel in 1776. Later that year he became colonel commanding the 11th Pennsylvania Regiment. Tasked with collecting boats on the Delaware River, his attention to this assignment materially helped the Americans win the Battle of Trenton in December 1776.
Richard Humpton | |
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![]() Richard Humpton was interred at the Caln Meeting House burial ground. | |
Born | 1733 Yorkshire, England |
Died | 21 December 1804 Caln Township, Chester Co., PA |
Allegiance | ![]() ![]() |
Service/ | Infantry |
Years of service | ![]() ![]() |
Rank | ![]() ![]() |
Battles/wars | Seven Years' War
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Other work | Society of the Cincinnati |
He commanded the 2nd Pennsylvania Brigade at Brandywine and Paoli in September 1777. After bringing charges against Anthony Wayne for Paoli, he led the 2nd Brigade at Germantown in October. He was present at Monmouth and assumed command of the 10th Pennsylvania Regiment shortly afterward. In January 1781 he took command of the 6th Pennsylvania Regiment and two years later he transferred to lead the 2nd Pennsylvania Regiment. He received a brevet promotion to brigadier general in September 1783 and retired to his farm. He later served as adjutant general of the state militia and was a member of the Society of the Cincinnati. He married Elizabeth Morris but the couple had no children. He is buried in the cemetery of the Friends Meeting at Caln Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania.
References
- Boatner, Mark M. III (1994). Encyclopedia of the American Revolution. Mechanicsburg, Pa.: Stackpole Books. ISBN 0-8117-0578-1.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
- Fischer, David Hackett (2004). Washington's Crossing. New York, N.Y.: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-518159-3.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
- Fraysier, Roni. ancestry.com. "Richard Humpton". Retrieved 2011-12-31.
- McGuire, Thomas J. (2006). The Philadelphia Campaign, Volume I. Mechanicsburg, Penn.: Stackpole Books. ISBN 0-8117-0178-6.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
- McGuire, Thomas J. (2007). The Philadelphia Campaign, Volume II. Mechanicsburg, Penn.: Stackpole Books. ISBN 978-0-8117-0206-5.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
- National Museum of the American Revolution. "General Washington's Order for Delaware Durham Boats". Retrieved 2011-12-31.
- Wilson, James Grant; Fiske, John (1887). Appleton's Cyclopaedia of American Biography Vol. 3. New York, N.Y.: D. Appleton & Co. p. 315.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
- Wright, Robert K. Jr (1989). The Continental Army. Washington, D.C.: US Army Center of Military History. CMH Pub 60-4.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
- "The Lister, Humpton and Hardman Families". zentus.com. Archived from the original on 2012-04-26. Retrieved 2011-12-31.