american leaders library
American civil leaders, such as Patrick Henry and Paul Revere, played important roles in the fight to gain independence. This section contains information about some of the people involved in the birth of the new country.
Featured Article: John Hancock
Hancock, John (1737–1793), a United States patriot and statesman. His bold signature was the first to be affixed to the Declaration of Independence—the term "John Hancock” is still a popular expression for a signature. See more »
George Ross
Ross, George (1730–1779), an American patriot. Ross was a member of the First and Second Continental Congresses (1774–77), and a signer of the Declaration of Independence.
See more »George Taylor
Taylor, George (1716–1781), a signer of the Declaration of Independence. He was a member of the provincial assembly of Pennsylvania (1764–69), the Pennsylvania Committee of Correspondence (1774–76), and the Continental Congress (1776–77).
See more »George Walton
Walton, George (1741–1804), a signer of the Declaration of Independence. He was born in Prince Edward County, Virginia, but settled in Savannah, Georgia, where he practiced law.
See more »George Wythe
Wythe, George (1726–1806), a United States jurist and signer of the Declaration of Independence.
See more »Haym Salomon
Salomon, Haym (1740-1785), a Polish-American financier and Revolutionary War patriot.
See more »Henry Dearborn
Dearborn, Henry (1751–1829), a United States army officer. He distinguished himself in the American Revolution and was later a representative in Congress from Massachusetts (1793–97) and secretary of war in Jefferson's cabinet (1801–09).
See more »Henry Knox
Knox, Henry (1750–1806), a United States army officer and statesman. As one of General Washington's most capable officers, he rose to the rank of major general during the Revolutionary War and later was the first secretary of war.
See more »Henry Lee
Lee, Henry (1756-1818), a Revolutionary War army officer known as “Light-Horse Harry.” Lee is remembered as a brilliant cavalry commander, as the father of the Confederate general Robert E.
See more »Horatio Gates
Gates, Horatio (1728?–1806), an American Revolutionary War army officer. Gates commanded the army that defeated the British under General John Burgoyne at the Battle of Saratoga in October, 1777, the turning point of the war.
See more »Israel Putnam
Putnam, Israel (1718–1790), an American military leader. He played an active role in patriotic causes before the American Revolution and served as a major general during the Revolutionary War.
See more »James McHenry
McHenry, James (1753–1816), a United States public official and a signer of the federal Constitution.
See more »James Otis
Otis, James (1725–1783), an American orator and statesman. Otis was one of the most influential figures in the pre-Revolutionary period.
See more »James Smith
Smith, James (1719?–1806), a signer of the Declaration of Independence. A prominent backcountry leader in Pennsylvania, he served in various provincial assemblies and was a member of the Continental Congress (1776 and 1778).
See more »John Barry
Barry, John (1745–1803), a United States naval officer. After John Paul Jones, he was the greatest naval hero of the American Revolution.
See more »John Dickinson
Dickinson, John (1732–1808), a United States statesman known as the “penman of the Revolution.” He wrote almost every important document of the Colonial and Continental congresses up to the Declaration of Independence and drafted the Articles of Confederation.
See more »John Hancock
Hancock, John (1737–1793), a United States patriot and statesman. His bold signature was the first to be affixed to the Declaration of Independence—the term "John Hancock” is still a popular expression for a signature.
See more »John Hart
Hart, John (1711?–1779), an American patriot and signer of the Declaration of Independence.
See more »John Jay
Jay, John (1745–1829), the first chief justice of the United States. Jay was one of the nation's ablest public officials, holding a number of important posts during the Revolutionary War and in the early years of the republic.
See more »John Manley
Manley, John (1734?–1793), a United States naval officer. In 1775 he was given command of the schooner Lee, part of a small naval force assembled by George Washington.
See more »John Morton
Morton, John (1724?–1777), an American patriot and a signer of the Declaration of Independence.
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