John Thomas (American general)

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John Thomas (1724 – June 2, 1776) was an American physician and soldier from Massachusetts who rose to major general in the Continental Army. He played a key role in the siege of Boston and briefly led the withdrawal from Canada after the failed invasion. He died of smallpox during the Canadian retreat.

Early life and medical career
Thomas was born in Marshfield, Massachusetts. He studied medicine with Doctor Tufts in Medford and began his practice in Kingston. He married Hannah, and they had two sons and a daughter.

Pre–Revolutionary War military service
During King George’s War in 1746 he became a surgeon for a regiment bound for Annapolis Royal in Nova Scotia. In 1747 he left the surgeon post for the rank of lieutenant. In 1755 he served as a surgeon in General William Shirley’s regiment. By the French and Indian War he had risen to colonel in the militia and provincial ranks, served in Nova Scotia in 1759, and in 1760 Amherst put him in command of a division during the attack and capture of Montreal. After the war he returned to Kingston to practice.

Revolutionary War service
In the lead-up to open war, Thomas recruited the 2nd Massachusetts Regiment in Plymouth County and served as its colonel. In February 1775 the Massachusetts assembly named him a brigadier general. He led his troops to the siege of Boston, and in June 1775 Congress appointed him a brigadier in the Continental Army. He briefly resigned after learning that four major generals would be named and he was not among them, but George Washington and Charles Lee urged him to stay. Congress then gave him precedence over all other brigadiers.

Dorchester Heights and victory at Boston
On the night of March 4, 1776, Thomas led his division to fortify Dorchester Heights, overlooking Boston, using cannons Henry Knox had brought from Fort Ticonderoga. From that position he threatened the British fleet, and the British evacuated Boston on March 17. Thomas was then promoted to major general.

Canada campaign and death
After General Richard Montgomery was killed, Thomas was assigned to command in Canada and to lead the invasion there. He joined the army besieging Quebec on May 1, but the force was small and undermanned, with many soldiers due for discharge and a outbreak of smallpox. He began withdrawing his troops and sent the sick to Trois-Rivières. He died of smallpox on June 2, 1776, during the retreat up the Richelieu River near Chambly. By June 18 the Continental Army had abandoned Canada.