Thomas Humphrey Cushing
Encyclopedia
Thomas Humphrey Cushing (November, 1755 – October 19, 1822) was an officer in the United States Army
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Cushing began his military career as a sergeant in the 6th Continental Regiment in January 1776. He was commissioned a 2nd lieutenant in the 1st Massachusetts Regiment in January 1777 and was promoted to 1st Lieuteant in January 1778. He was taken prisoner in May 1781 and was later exchanged. He was breveted to the rank of Captain in September 1783. Cushing was one of the last soldiers to be dischaged from the Continental Army in June 1784.
On March 4, 1791 Cushing was commissioned a Captain in the 2nd Infantry Regiment. He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel of the 2nd Infantry on April 1, 1802. He was promoted to Colonel of the same regiment on September 7, 1805.
Cushing served as Adjutant General of the U.S. Army from 1797 to 1798 (acting), 1800 to 1807, and 1812 to 1813. He also served as acting Inspector General of the U.S. Army from 1800 to 1807 and 1812 to 1813. Cushing was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General in 1812 and retired in June 1815.
In 1816 Cushing was appointed collector of customs for the port of New London, Connecticut.
In 1817, Cushing fought a duel
with Virginia
congressman William J. Lewis
and was saved when the bullet struck his watch.
Cushing died in New London, Connecticut in 1822.
In 1799 Cushing commissioned artist James Peale to create a miniature portrait of himself.
Cushing was an original member of the Society of the Cincinnati
from Massachusetts and was a member of the Society from 1783 until his death.
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
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Cushing began his military career as a sergeant in the 6th Continental Regiment in January 1776. He was commissioned a 2nd lieutenant in the 1st Massachusetts Regiment in January 1777 and was promoted to 1st Lieuteant in January 1778. He was taken prisoner in May 1781 and was later exchanged. He was breveted to the rank of Captain in September 1783. Cushing was one of the last soldiers to be dischaged from the Continental Army in June 1784.
On March 4, 1791 Cushing was commissioned a Captain in the 2nd Infantry Regiment. He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel of the 2nd Infantry on April 1, 1802. He was promoted to Colonel of the same regiment on September 7, 1805.
Cushing served as Adjutant General of the U.S. Army from 1797 to 1798 (acting), 1800 to 1807, and 1812 to 1813. He also served as acting Inspector General of the U.S. Army from 1800 to 1807 and 1812 to 1813. Cushing was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General in 1812 and retired in June 1815.
In 1816 Cushing was appointed collector of customs for the port of New London, Connecticut.
In 1817, Cushing fought a duel
Duel
A duel is an arranged engagement in combat between two individuals, with matched weapons in accordance with agreed-upon rules.Duels in this form were chiefly practised in Early Modern Europe, with precedents in the medieval code of chivalry, and continued into the modern period especially among...
with Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
congressman William J. Lewis
William J. Lewis
William J. Lewis was a U.S. Representative from Virginia.Born in Augusta County, Virginia, Lewis attended the common schools.He served as member of the State house of delegates....
and was saved when the bullet struck his watch.
Cushing died in New London, Connecticut in 1822.
In 1799 Cushing commissioned artist James Peale to create a miniature portrait of himself.
Cushing was an original member of the Society of the Cincinnati
Society of the Cincinnati
The Society of the Cincinnati is a historical organization with branches in the United States and France founded in 1783 to preserve the ideals and fellowship of the American Revolutionary War officers and to pressure the government to honor pledges it had made to officers who fought for American...
from Massachusetts and was a member of the Society from 1783 until his death.