John Sullivan (general)
John Sullivan | |
|---|---|
| Judge of the United States District Court for the District of New Hampshire | |
| In office September 26, 1789 – January 23, 1795 | |
| Appointed by | George Washington |
| Preceded by | Seat established by 1 Stat. 73 |
| Succeeded by | John Pickering |
| 3rd Governor of New Hampshire | |
| In office January 22, 1789 – June 5, 1790 | |
| Preceded by | John Langdon |
| Succeeded by | Josiah Bartlett |
| In office June 7, 1786 – June 4, 1788 | |
| Preceded by | John Langdon |
| Succeeded by | John Langdon |
| Personal details | |
| Born | John Sullivan February 17, 1740 |
| Died | January 23, 1795 (aged 54) Durham, New Hampshire, U.S. |
| Resting place | Durham, New Hampshire, U.S. |
| Party | Federalist |
| Children | George Sullivan |
| Relatives | James Sullivan |
| Education | read law |
| Signature | |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch/service | Continental Army |
| Years of service | 1775-1779 |
| Rank | Major general |
| Battles/wars | |
Major General John Sullivan (February 17, 1740 – January 23, 1795) was a Continental Army officer, politician and judge who served in the American Revolutionary War and participated in several key events of the conflict, most notably George Washington's crossing of the Delaware River. He was also a delegate to the Continental Congress, where Sullivan signed the Continental Association. After the war, he served as the third governor of New Hampshire and was appointed as a United States district judge of the District Court for the District of New Hampshire.
Sullivan, the third son of American settlers, led the Sullivan Expedition in 1779, a scorched earth campaign by the Continental Army which destroyed 40 Iroquois villages, killed 200 Iroquois and forcibly displaced 5,000 Iroquois as refugees to British-controlled Fort Niagara. There is a historiographical debate over whether or not the actions of Sullivan and his troops during the expedition constitute genocide. As a member of Congress, Sullivan worked closely with the French ambassador to the United States, the Chevalier de la Luzerne.