John Sullivan

Sullivan was born in New Hampshire, moved to Maine, then returned to his home state to practice law. There he actively supported the patriot cause, and served as a militia officer. Congress appointed him one of the Continental Army's original brigadier generals in 1775, from which position he was promoted to major general the next summer. Sullivan was an acceptable, if not exceptional military leader, commanding troops in many major battles and campaigns. He succeeded at Trenton, Princeton, Newport, and in an expedition against the Iroquois in 1779. He failed at Three Rivers, Staten Island, Brandywine, and Germantown. Sullivan was continually criticized for his temper, pugnacious nature, and lack of superior military talent. Opponents put pressure on the administration to dismiss him and, when he submitted his resignation in 1779, allegedly for health reasons, Congress accepted it. After the Revolutionary War, Sullivan served as Governor of New Hampshire, and his son became a New Hampshire congressman.