Commander-in-Chief of the British Forces in North America: Thomas Gage, who drafted the Intolerable Acts

British officer. From 1763 to 1774, he served as Commander-in-Chief of the British Army in North America. Always hostile to North American immigrants, he drafted the Intolerable Act in response to the Boston Tea Party case. At the beginning of the American Revolutionary War, due to successive military defeats, his position was taken over by William Howe.

Thomas Gage (1720-1787), commander-in-chief of the British Army in North America, Army General, known as Honest Tom. Born in Gloucestershire, England, his father was the 1st Viscount Gage of Ireland. In 1728, he studied at Westminster School, where he met George Howe, Richard Howe, George Keppel and George Sackville. He was awarded the rank of second lieutenant after 1737 and was promoted to captain in 1743. He participated in the Battle of Fontenoy when he was the aide-de-camp of William Keppel, Earl of Albirmac. He participated in the Battle of Culloden while serving under the Duke of Cumberland. In the following years, After becoming wealthy in the Netherlands, he was transferred to the 55th Infantry Regiment and promoted to major in 1748. Promoted to lieutenant colonel in 1751. In 1755, he joined General Braddock's camp in North America and went to Virginia. He led the vanguard of the French and Indians at the Battle of the Monongahela River. He performed bravely under difficult conditions and was slightly wounded. During the subsequent retreat, he became friends with George Washington. When the 55th Infantry Regiment was reorganized into the 44th Infantry Regiment, he served as lieutenant colonel.

After the Seven Years War began, he participated in the unsuccessful Louisburg Expedition and Mohawk Valley Expedition in 1757. He was promoted to colonel in 1758 for organizing a new light infantry regiment (80th Infantry Regiment). In the summer, he failed to pass Ticonderoga Castle and was wounded in battle. He was promoted to brigadier general. In 1759, he was ordered by General Jeffrey Amherst to attack Fort Lagarette, New York. He judged that his troops were insufficient. He gave up the attack, which made his boss furious. He served as Amherst's rearguard during the Battle of Montreal in 1760. After the battle, he became Governor-General of Lower Canada (1761-1763) and was known for his honest and fair administration.

Suppression of rebellion

Promoted to major general in 1761, and succeeded Amherst as commander-in-chief of the British forces in North America in 1763. The headquarters is located in New York. He returned to the United Kingdom to serve for a short period of time (June 1763-May 1764). When the Boston Tea Incident occurred, he was immediately sent back to the restless colony as commander and governor of Massachusetts to implement the "Coercion Act" promulgated by Congress. After disbanding the elected government of Massachusetts Bay, Gage soon collected gunpowder from the colonial militia, triggering the gunpowder crisis in 1774 and the battles of Lexington and Concord in 1775, thus starting the American Revolutionary War. After the Battle of Bunker Hill in 1775, Gage came under fire for his poor command and was transferred back to England in October. The post of commander-in-chief of the British forces in North America was changed to William Howe. In order to prevent a possible French invasion, he returned to Amherst's chief of staff in April 1781 and organized a militia in Kent County. Promoted to general in November 1782.

Died at home in Portland, London in 1787