General Thomas Gage
Thomas Gage was born at Firle, England in 1719. He studied in Westminster School and finishing school, Gage joined the British Army as an ensign, before becoming lieutenant in the Northampton Regiment on January 30, 1741. The following year he was transferred to Battereau's Foot Regiment. In 1743, Gage was promoted to captain. Gage saw action at the Battle of Fontenoy and served in Scotland. While with the 55th, Gage proved himself an able leader and was promoted to lieutenant colonel in 1751. He also participated in the French and Indian War.
In 1761, Gage was promoted to major general and two years later returned to New York acting as commander in chief. This appointment was made official on November 16, 1764. As the new commander in chief in America, the two years that came were merely Indian battles of sporadic fighting; and the peace treaty with the Indian natives was concluded in July 1766. As peace was achieved on the frontier tensions were rising in the colonies due to variety of taxes imposed by London.
Following the fighting at Lexington and Concord, Gage found himself intimidated in Boston by a growing colonial army. Concerned that his wife, a colonial by birth, was helping the enemy, Gage sent her away to England. Helped in May by 4,500 men under major general William Howe, Gage began planning a breakout. In the resulting Battle of Bunker Hill, Gage`s men were able to capture the heights. That October, Gage was recalled to England and Howe given temporary command of British forces in America.
Arriving England, Gage told to Lord George Germain, now the Secretary of State of the American Colonies that a big army would be necessary to defeat the Americans and that foreign troops would need to be hired. In April 1776, command was permanently given to Howe and Gage placed on the inactive list, he still kept his position of general by November 20, 1782. Gage saw little active service and died at the Isle of Portland on April 2, 1787.
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