Facts about Thomas Gage
The following facts about Thomas Gage provide interesting facts and an overview and description of the life and times and his involvement in the early early days of the American Revolution.

Thomas Gage was famous as a British General serving in North America in the early days of the American Revolution

When was Thomas Gage born? He was born c1721. Where was Thomas Gage born? He was born to an aristocratic family and raised in Sussex, England. His father, Thomas Gage, 1st Viscount Gage was a wealthy aristocrat and land owner. Thomas was a second son. Thomas Gage received an excellent education at the highly prestigious Westminster School

Following his graduation he joined the British Army in 1741. Thomas Gage served in Flanders and in the Battle of Culloden, becoming lieutenant-colonel in 1751

In 1754 he was posted to North America where he took part in the disastrous expedition led by General Braddock. In 1758 Thomas Gage became a colonel.

He successfully served in Amherst's operations against Montreal and was appointed governor of Montreal, and promoted major-general in 1761.

In 1763 he succeeded Jeffrey Amherst in the command of the British forces in America and appointed as lieutenant general in 1770

Thomas Gage was appointed governor of Massachusetts in 1774.

In 1774 he was given the unenviable job of implementing the Boston Port Act, one of the pushing laws against Massachusetts following the Boston Tea Party which erupted on December 16, 1773

The British decision to punish the whole of Massachusetts for the actions of Boston led to insurgence by the Americans and led to the Battle of Lexington
and the Battle of Concord and the start of the American War of Independence

After the Battle of Bunker Hill, Thomas Gage was superseded by General Sir William Howe, and returned to England. Thomas Gage became a general in 1782

He died on the 2nd of April 1787.