American soldier, born in Co Dublin, Ireland. Commissioned in the British army (1756), he saw service in America during the French and Indian War, then resigned to settle in America (1773). He married the daughter of the wealthy New Yorker, Robert Livingston (171875), and supported the patriots in their resistance to Britain. He was promoted brigadier-general in the Continental army (Jun 1775), and as second-in-command in General Philip Schuyler's expedition to Canada, he led the forces that captured Montreal. He lost his life during the assault on Quebec (31 Dec 1775).
Richard Montgomery (December 2, 1736 – December 31, 1775) was an Irish-American soldier who served as a major general in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War.
He was born in Swords, County Dublin, Ireland, the son of Thomas Montgomery (a member of Parliament) and Mary Franklin Montgomery.
Richard Montgomery was an officer in the British Army in the Seven Years' War, serving in both Canada and the Caribbean.
Montgomery associated with the Whig members of Parliament, who generally supported the colonists in their demands for more political freedom.
On April 6, 1772, he sold his Army commission and decided to move back to New York.
On July 24, 1773, Montgomery married Janet Livingston, sister of Robert R.
Montgomery was commissioned as the second-ranking brigadier general in the American Revolutionary War and led an army into Canada (Invasion of Canada), where he captured two forts and the city of Montreal.
Legacy
Places named after Richard Montgomery include:
Montgomery, Alabama Montgomery, Minnesota Montgomery County, Illinois Montgomery County, Indiana Montgomery County, Maryland Montgomery County, Ohio Montgomery County, Pennsylvania Richard Montgomery High School Montgomery Place - A mansion and history site in Rhinebeck, New York, open to the public.See also: List of places named for Richard Montgomery
In World War II the United States liberty ship SS Richard Montgomery was named in his honor.
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