General Thomas Gage (1719-1787) led the British forces during the turmoil in Boston leading up to the American Revolution. He was born in England, but lived in the colonies serving in the British forces for many years. Before the first shots were fired, General Gage used the left, front room of the Page House as his Royal Office. He served alongside of George Washington during the French and Indian War, but later found himself on the opposing side during the Revolution. During the early 1770s, General Gage advocated for stricter treatment of the colonists, insisting that the stronger measures would control the situation. In part because of this, the Crown named him Thomas Hutchinson’s replacement as Governor of Massachusetts in 1774. He traveled to Boston where he attempted to take control of the city.

In April of 1775, General Gage sent the British forces to Lexington in order to arrest John Hancock and Samuel Adams. They were then to travel to Concord and destroy munitions. General Gage thought the troop’s movements were unknown to the leaders of the American cause, but Dr. Joseph Warren found out and sent Paul Revere and William Dawes on the famous "midnight ride.” On the return trip to Boston, the minutemen from the surrounding countryside caught the British force by surprise. After General Gage sent reinforcements, the troops successfully retreated to Boston. When returning to Boston, the British found themselves trapped and under siege. General Gage’s one time friend, George Washington, took command of the American forces and led the Siege of Boston. The British viewed General Gage’s performance in Boston as disappointing and recalled him to London not long after Washington took command of the American forces. His career in the British military ended shortly after his return to London. 

By: Jessica McKenzie

Credits and Sources:

Byron, Matthew A. “Thomas Gage.” George Washington’s Mount Vernon. Accessed September 11, 2016. http://www.mountvernon.org/digital-encyclopedia/article/thomas-gage/

Essex National Heritage Area. “Page House.” National Park Service. Accessed September 8, 2016.   http://www.essexheritage.org/attractions/page-house

Heslip, Philip. “Finding ais for Thomas Gage Papers, 1754-1807.” Manuscripts Division William L. Clements Library University of Michigan. Last Updated October 2010. Accessed September 11, 2016. http://quod.lib.umich.edu/c/clementsmss/umich-wcl-M-341gag?view=text

Ushistory.org. “Lexington and Concord.” U.S. History Online Textbook. Independence Hall Association. Accessed September 23, 2016. http://www.ushistory.org/us/11c.asp