Benjamin Lincoln

Overview

Benjamin Lincoln (1733-1810) was an American military officer and statesman who played a significant role during the American Revolutionary War. Born in Massachusetts, Lincoln initially worked as a farmer and a blacksmith before embracing a military career. He quickly rose through the ranks and eventually became a major general in the Continental Army. One of his notable contributions was his leadership at the pivotal Battle of Saratoga in 1777, where his strategic maneuvers helped secure a crucial victory for the American forces, boosting their morale and earning him recognition from General George Washington. Unfortunately, General Lincoln surrendered his Continental Army and Charleston to British forces in 1780. After being exchanged, he played a key role in negotiating the surrender of the British at Yorktown in 1781, a pivotal event that effectively ended the war

Lincoln’s service to his country extended beyond the battlefield. Lincoln served as the Secretary of War under the Continental Congress from 1781 to 1783, where he focused on rebuilding the American military and improving its infrastructure. He also held various political positions, including lieutenant governor and acting governor of Massachusetts. Benjamin Lincoln’s life and contributions exemplify the dedication and resilience of the American patriots during the Revolutionary War.

Memoirs and Papers

Benjamin Lincoln papers, Massachusetts Historical Society

Benjamin Lincoln papers, 1778-1806. Manuscript Division, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

Biographies

Mattern, David B. Benjamin Lincoln and the American Revolution. Columbia, SC: University of South Carolina Press, 1998.

Site of Benjamin Lincoln’s Surrender of Charleston, SC to the British in 1780