Benjamin Eyre
Encyclopedia
Benjamin George Eyre was a figure of the American Revolutionary War
. Eyre served as a Lieutenant Colonel
in the Continental Army
, commanding the Second Battalion of the Pennsylvania Militia. As aide-de-camp
to General George Washington
, he was so close to the future President
that he was once given an expensive punch-bowl by him. The punchbowl was loaned to the American Wing of New York's Metropolitan Museum in 1928 and donated by the surviving heirs in 1973. A large color photo can be seen in the magazine American Heritage, August 1955. The bowl depicted the China international trade and includes one of the first illustrations of the American flag, along with other international standards. The Eyre brothers were major ship builders.
Benjamin Eyre was commissioned by the Continental Congress
to build the frigate General Greene, a service for which he was paid 56,561 pounds. http://books.google.com/books?id=j8obAAAAMAAJ&pg=RA1-PA476&dq=Benjamin+Eyre&lr= Large contracts such as this one during the Revolutionary War era helped the Eyres' shipping company, Eyre and Massey, to become one of the largest in the world and bolstered the political and financial situation of the Eyre family.
Benjamin was the brother to Manuel
and Jehu Eyre
, also both major players in the Revolution. Apocryphally, his family was descended, through his father, from the royal House of Wessex
.
The Eyre family as a whole played a pivotal role in the war (most notably through their invaluable contributions to the U.S. Navy
, which they essentially founded) and Washington mentioned them several times in his personal correspondences.
A portrait of him standing alongside Washington can be found at Princeton University
.
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
. Eyre served as a Lieutenant Colonel
Lieutenant Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Air Force, and United States Marine Corps, a lieutenant colonel is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of major and just below the rank of colonel. It is equivalent to the naval rank of commander in the other uniformed services.The pay...
in the Continental Army
Continental Army
The Continental Army was formed after the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War by the colonies that became the United States of America. Established by a resolution of the Continental Congress on June 14, 1775, it was created to coordinate the military efforts of the Thirteen Colonies in...
, commanding the Second Battalion of the Pennsylvania Militia. As aide-de-camp
Aide-de-camp
An aide-de-camp is a personal assistant, secretary, or adjutant to a person of high rank, usually a senior military officer or a head of state...
to General George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
, he was so close to the future President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
that he was once given an expensive punch-bowl by him. The punchbowl was loaned to the American Wing of New York's Metropolitan Museum in 1928 and donated by the surviving heirs in 1973. A large color photo can be seen in the magazine American Heritage, August 1955. The bowl depicted the China international trade and includes one of the first illustrations of the American flag, along with other international standards. The Eyre brothers were major ship builders.
Benjamin Eyre was commissioned by the Continental Congress
Continental Congress
The Continental Congress was a convention of delegates called together from the Thirteen Colonies that became the governing body of the United States during the American Revolution....
to build the frigate General Greene, a service for which he was paid 56,561 pounds. http://books.google.com/books?id=j8obAAAAMAAJ&pg=RA1-PA476&dq=Benjamin+Eyre&lr= Large contracts such as this one during the Revolutionary War era helped the Eyres' shipping company, Eyre and Massey, to become one of the largest in the world and bolstered the political and financial situation of the Eyre family.
Benjamin was the brother to Manuel
Manuel Eyre
Manuel Eyre was a colonel in the Continental Army, a shipbuilder, and the brother of Revolutionary War heroes Benjamin and Jehu Eyre....
and Jehu Eyre
Jehu Eyre
Jehu Eyre or Ayer was an American businessman, veteran of the French and Indian War and American Revolutionary War, and member of the influential Eyre family, which played a major role in the American Revolution and the early Republic...
, also both major players in the Revolution. Apocryphally, his family was descended, through his father, from the royal House of Wessex
House of Wessex
The House of Wessex, also known as the House of Cerdic, refers to the family that ruled a kingdom in southwest England known as Wessex. This House was in power from the 6th century under Cerdic of Wessex to the unification of the Kingdoms of England....
.
The Eyre family as a whole played a pivotal role in the war (most notably through their invaluable contributions to the U.S. Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
, which they essentially founded) and Washington mentioned them several times in his personal correspondences.
A portrait of him standing alongside Washington can be found at Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
.