Richard Prescott
Encyclopedia
Richard Prescott was a British
officer
, born in England
.
He was appointed a major of the 33rd Regiment of Foot, on 20 December 1756, transferred to the 72nd Regiment of Foot
on 9 May 1758, and on 14 December 1761, lieutenant-colonel of the 17th Regiment of Foot, before in May 1762, transferring to the 50th Regiment of Foot
, with which regiment he served in Germany
during the Seven Years War.
He afterward transferred to the 7th Regiment of Foot before he was brevetted
colonel in the army on 25 June 1772, before he went to Canada
in 1773. On the reduction of Montreal
by the Americans in 1775, Colonel Prescott, who had the local rank of brigadier-general
, attempted to descend to Quebec
with the British troops and the military stores, but was obliged to surrender to the Americans on 17 November. In September, 1776, he was exchanged for General John Sullivan
. In November he became colonel of his regiment, and in December he was third in command of the expedition against Rhode Island
, where he remained in command of the British forces prior to the Battle of Rhode Island
.
On Prescott Farm
in Rhode Island, he was abducted from his quarters at night on 10 July 1777, by Lieutenant-Colonel William Barton
and a force of about 20 men including Jack Sisson
. The Americans took him to Providence. Prescott was again exchanged, this time for General Charles Lee
. Prescott resumed his command in Rhode Island
, but was almost immediately superseded by Sir Robert Pigot.
He became a major-general
, 29 August 1777, and lieutenant-general, 26 November 1782. His treatment of American prisoners was harsh and cruel. See "The Capture of Prescott by Lieutenant-Colonel William Barton", an address at the centennial celebration of the exploit, by Jeremiah Lewis Diman (Providence, 1877).
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
officer
Officer (armed forces)
An officer is a member of an armed force or uniformed service who holds a position of authority. Commissioned officers derive authority directly from a sovereign power and, as such, hold a commission charging them with the duties and responsibilities of a specific office or position...
, born in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
He was appointed a major of the 33rd Regiment of Foot, on 20 December 1756, transferred to the 72nd Regiment of Foot
72nd Regiment of Foot
The 72nd Highlanders was a British Army Highland Infantry Regiment of the Line raised in the late 18th Century in Scotland for service against the French...
on 9 May 1758, and on 14 December 1761, lieutenant-colonel of the 17th Regiment of Foot, before in May 1762, transferring to the 50th Regiment of Foot
50th (Queen's Own) Regiment of Foot
thumb|right|250px|soldier of 50th Regiment about 1740The 50th Regiment of Foot was an infantry regiment of the British Army from 1755 to 1881....
, with which regiment he served in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
during the Seven Years War.
He afterward transferred to the 7th Regiment of Foot before he was brevetted
Brevet (military)
In many of the world's military establishments, brevet referred to a warrant authorizing a commissioned officer to hold a higher rank temporarily, but usually without receiving the pay of that higher rank except when actually serving in that role. An officer so promoted may be referred to as being...
colonel in the army on 25 June 1772, before he went to Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
in 1773. On the reduction of Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
by the Americans in 1775, Colonel Prescott, who had the local rank of brigadier-general
Brigadier
Brigadier is a senior military rank, the meaning of which is somewhat different in different military services. The brigadier rank is generally superior to the rank of colonel, and subordinate to major general....
, attempted to descend to Quebec
Quebec City
Quebec , also Québec, Quebec City or Québec City is the capital of the Canadian province of Quebec and is located within the Capitale-Nationale region. It is the second most populous city in Quebec after Montreal, which is about to the southwest...
with the British troops and the military stores, but was obliged to surrender to the Americans on 17 November. In September, 1776, he was exchanged for General John Sullivan
John Sullivan
John Sullivan was the third son of Irish immigrants, a United States general in the Revolutionary War, a delegate in the Continental Congress and a United States federal judge....
. In November he became colonel of his regiment, and in December he was third in command of the expedition against Rhode Island
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
, where he remained in command of the British forces prior to the Battle of Rhode Island
Battle of Rhode Island
The Battle of Rhode Island, also known as the Battle of Quaker Hill and the Siege of Newport, took place on August 29, 1778. Continental Army and militia forces under the command of General John Sullivan were withdrawing to the northern part of Aquidneck Island after abandoning their siege of...
.
On Prescott Farm
Prescott Farm
Prescott Farm is a historic preservation of a colonial farm in Middletown , Rhode Island. It spans 40 acres, and was in danger of demolition before Doris Duke, through the Newport Restoration Foundation bought it in 1973 and began restoration of the historical site. Notable features of it include...
in Rhode Island, he was abducted from his quarters at night on 10 July 1777, by Lieutenant-Colonel William Barton
William Barton (soldier)
William Barton was an officer in the Continental Army during the American War of Independence who retired with the rank of colonel. He later served as adjutant general of the Rhode Island militia....
and a force of about 20 men including Jack Sisson
Jack Sisson
Jack Sisson was an African-American who served in the First Rhode Island Regiment during the American Revolutionary War. Sisson was one of the key figures in the July 1777 capture of British General Richard Prescott. Sisson was among about forty troops under the command of Colonel William Barton...
. The Americans took him to Providence. Prescott was again exchanged, this time for General Charles Lee
Charles Lee (general)
Charles Lee was a British soldier who later served as a General of the Continental Army during the American War of Independence. Lee served in the British army during the Seven Years War. After the war he sold his commission and served for a time in the Polish army of King Stanislaus II...
. Prescott resumed his command in Rhode Island
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
, but was almost immediately superseded by Sir Robert Pigot.
He became a major-general
Major-General (United Kingdom)
Major general is a senior rank in the British Army. Since 1996 the highest position within the Royal Marines is the Commandant General Royal Marines who holds the rank of major general...
, 29 August 1777, and lieutenant-general, 26 November 1782. His treatment of American prisoners was harsh and cruel. See "The Capture of Prescott by Lieutenant-Colonel William Barton", an address at the centennial celebration of the exploit, by Jeremiah Lewis Diman (Providence, 1877).