Maj. General Benjamin Lincoln - Hingham, MA - American Revolutionary War Veteran Graves on Waymarking.com

Born into a prominent Massachusetts family in 1733, Benjamin Lincoln followed his father’s footsteps into politics and military service at a young age. He became constable of Hingham at 21 and was elected town clerk in 1757. In military service he rose to the rank of major during the French and Indian War but saw no combat.

During the Revolutionary War, Lincoln was involved in the Boston campaign which saw the British dispelled from Boston and Boston Harbor. He then joined Washington in New York and participated in the retreat into New Jersey. He was then sent north to assist General Schuyler against Burgoyne’s advance from Quebec. Though his unit didn’t participate in the decisive Battle of Bemis Heights which led to Burgoyne’s surrender, he was nevertheless wounded when a British musket ball shattered his left ankle.

After recovering from his injuries, Lincoln returned to service, this time being sent south where he participated in the unsuccessful siege of Savannah, GA. Subsequently, his command of 5000 men were caught in the siege of Charleston, SC where he was forced to surrender to the British in 1780, the largest American surrender of the war.

After a prisoner exchange, Lincoln returned to service in time to participate in the successful siege of Yorktown, VA and the decisive surrender of Lord Cornwallis which effectively ended the war. As Washington’s second in command, General Lincoln accepted the sword of surrender from General Charles O’Hara, Cornwallis’ second in command (Cornwallis claimed he was too ill to participate in the actual surrender). In this capacity, General Benjamin Lincoln is the most prominent Continental officer portrayed in John Trumbull’s famous painting of the Surrender at Yorktown which hangs in the National Capitol in Washington DC. He is also prominently displayed on one of the U.S. postage stamps based on the Trumbull painting.

After the war, Lincoln continued to participate in politics, serving as the United States’ first Secretary of War under the Articles of Confederation. He even received one electoral vote for first President of the United States. In Massachusetts, he held several political offices including a stint as Lieutenant Governor. He died in 1810 at the age of 77 and is buried in the Hingham Cemetery in Massachusetts.

Location type: Single Grave Date of Birth: 1/24/1733 Date of Death: 5/9/1810 Cause of death: Died Later Grave Marker Text: BENJAMIN LINCOLN, / MAJOR-GENERAL IN THE ARMY OF THE REVOLUTION. / BORN JANUARY 24, 1733. / DIED MAY 9, 1810. Ranks: Major General

Visit Instructions:

PLEASE NOTE: This category is for American Revolutionary War Veterans only. Veterans of other revolutions are not part of this category.

I have allowed one entry for a grave of British solders, but it was an exception. Please only list graves for Colonial soldiers.

Simply visit the locations. Please provide as much information as possible. Pictures would be a great addition.

Recent Visits/Logs:

There are no logs for this waymark yet.