Who is Joseph Warren in US history?

Answer 1

Dr. Joseph Warren was a Patriot general in the American Revolution. He was born on June 11, 1741 in Roxbury, Massachusetts to Joseph Warren and Mary Stevens Warren. Before becoming a militiaman in the Patriot forces, Warren attended Harvard College (he graduated in 1759) and delved in the science of medicine, practiced surgery, and studied politics, joining the secret revolutionary order Sons of Liberty, where he became acquainted with men such as Paul Revere, John Hancock, and Patrick Henry. When Boston had become the hornet's nest of anger and fury towards the royal British government, Warren was made a member of the Boston Committee of Correspondence. He gave two speeches on the Boston Massacre and helped create the Suffolk Reserves, which had been approved by the Continental Congress in order to encourage opposition to Parliament's Coercive Acts. Following that, he was selected for the position of President of the Massachusetts Provincial Congress, which was the uppermost status of the politics behind the revolution.

Having been informed about British troops traveling to Lexington and Concord on April 18, Joseph Warren sent Paul Revere and William Dawes on their well-known "midnight rides" to inform John Hancock and Samuel Adams of the approaching enemy forces. The following day, Warren ran from Boston to help command the American militia with William Heath. As the British retreated from Concord, Warren was among those who pursued the enemy and continued to attack their army. During the fight, Warren was nearly shot in the head, but instead, the musket ball hit Warren's wig. He then assisted others in raising an army in order to combat British soldiers during the Siege of Boston. On June 14, 1775, the Provincial Congress made Joseph Warren a major general.

After the British capture of Boston, the Patriots sought to retake the city. However, the colonial militia had no navy and, even if they did, probably would not be able to put up a fight against Britain's unbeatable fleet. The Patriots, nonetheless, thought that Boston could be retaken if the area was surrounded by colonial artillery in the hills around Boston; namely Bunker Hill, Breed's Hill, and Copp's Hill. The weaponry there would barrage the city until the British relinquished control of Boston or retreated.

However, British reconnaissance alerted their generals of the colonial presence, however, and the British set up their forces accordingly. The British planned to start an attack from the Charlestown Neck in order to cut off a colonial retreat. This also would help the British troops capture the new colonial redoubt by starving its occupants. General Howe would lead the main assault, then rally to the rear of the colonial army by directing his troops around the Patriots' left side. Robert Pigot would command the attack on the redoubt and Major John Pitcairn would manage the reserve force. However, after spotting the militia and their redoubts on Bunker Hill, Howe requested reinforcements. Colonel William Prescott, having observed the British groundwork, called for reinforcements as well. Standing out in the midst of these reinforcements was newly appointed Major General Joseph Warren.

When he arrived where the militia had been preparing for battle, Warren asked where the fighting would be heaviest and requested he be sent there. General Israel Putnam, in turn, sent him to Bunker Hill. Although he wished to be a private, General Putnam and Colonel Prescott demanded he serve as commander. Warren turned down the offer because he felt that the two had more practice at commanding, and this decision would lead to his death.

As he wished, Warren served the battle as a private. He encouraged the rebel troops to fight with words such as, "These fellows say we won't fight! By Heaven, I hope I shall die up to my knees in blood!" He fought valiantly in the redoubt until, finally, he ran out of shells. He fought on, however until the third and final British attack on the redoubt, in which he was shot in the head and killed (perhaps by a musket ball fired by Lieutenant Lord Rawdon). Having realized the identity of this man, Rawdon undressed Warren and proceeded to stab Warren with a bayonet until he thought the man unrecognizable. British Captain Walter Laurie later reported that he "stuffed the scoundrel with another rebel into one hole, and there he and his seditious principles remain." There, Warren's brothers and Paul Revere found his body ten months later.

His body was placed in the Granary Burying Ground until he was moved in 1855 to his family's vault in Forest Hills Cemetery, where he was finally laid to rest.

Hope this was helpful!

The Anonymous Answerer

Sources: Wikipedia page "Joseph Warren", Wikipedia Page "Battle of Bunker Hill"

Answer 2

fight in the American Revolution