The American Revolution began in 1775 and led to the rapid formation of American armies to oppose the British. While British forces were largely led by professional officers and filled with career soldiers, the American leadership and ranks were filled with individuals drawn from all walks of colonial life. Some American leaders, such as George Washington, possessed extensive service in the militia, while others came directly from civilian life. The American leadership was also supplemented by foreign officers recruited in Europe, though these were of varying quality. During the early years of the conflict, American forces were hampered by poor generals and those who had achieved their rank through political connections. As the war wore on, many of these were replaced as competent and skilled officers emerged.
American Revolution Leaders: American
Major General William Alexander, Lord Stirling - noted brigade, division, and department commander
Lieutenant Colonel Ethan Allen - Commander, Green Mountain Boys during 1775 attack on Fort Ticonderoga
Major General Benedict Arnold - noted field commander, famously changed sides in 1780 becoming one of history's best-known traitors
Commodore John Barry - noted naval commander
Brigadier General George Rogers Clark - Conqueror of the Old Northwest
Major General Horatio Gates - Commander, Northern Department, 1777-1778, Southern Department, 1780
Colonel Christopher Greene - Commander at Fort Mercer, Battle of Red Bank
Major General Nathanael Greene - Commander, Continental Army in the South (1780-1783)
Commodore John Paul Jones - Key American naval commander
Major General Henry Knox - American artillery commander
Marquis de Lafayette - Noted French volunteer in American service
Major General Charles Lee - Controversial American field commander
Major General Henry "Light Horse Harry" Lee - noted American cavalry/light infantry commander
Major General Benjamin Lincoln - Commander, Southern Department (1778-1780)
Brigadier General Francis Marion - "The Swamp Fox" - Noted guerilla leader
Brigadier General Hugh Mercer - American general killed in 1777
Major General Richard Montgomery - Promising American general killed at the Battle of Quebec
Brigadier General Daniel Morgan - Key commander at Saratoga and Cowpens
Major Samuel Nicholas - Founding Officer, US Marine Corps
Brigadier General Count Casimir Pulaski - Father of the America Cavalry
Major General Arthur St. Clair - Commander at Fort Ticonderoga, 1777
Major General John Stark - Victor of Bennington
Major General Baron Friedrich von Steuben - Inspector General, Continental Army
Major General John Sullivan - Division Commander (1776-1778), Commander, Rhode Island (1778), Sullivan Expedition (1779)
General George Washington - Commander in Chief, Continental Army
Major General Anthony Wayne - Daring American commander who saw extensive service
American Revolution Leaders - British
Major John Andre - British spymaster
Lieutenant General John Burgoyne - British commander at the Battle of Saratoga
Governor Major General Sir Guy Carleton - British Governor of Quebec (1768-1778, commander-in-chief in America (1782-1783)
General Sir Henry Clinton - British commander-in-chief in America (1778-1782)
Lieutenant General Lord Charles Cornwallis - British commander in the South, forced to surrender at the Battle of Yorktown
Major Patrick Ferguson - inventor of the Ferguson rifle, commander at the Battle of Kings Mountain
General Thomas Gage - governor of Massachusetts, commander-in-chief in America (1775)
Vice Admiral Richard Howe - Commander, North American Station (1776-1778)
General Sir William Howe - British commander-in-chief in American (1775-1778)
Admiral Lord George Rodney - British naval commander
Lieutenant Colonel Banastre Tarleton - noted British cavalry commander
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