American revolutionary soldier, born in Sutton, Massachusetts, USA. He served against the French (175760), and in the American War of Independence commanded a regiment, becoming brigadier-general in 1783. In 1788 he founded Marietta, OH, and in 1789 was appointed a judge of the Supreme Court of the Northwest Territory. He later became surveyor-general of the United States (17931803).
Rufus Putnam (April 9, 1738 – 1824) was a colonial military officer during the French and Indian War, and a general in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War.
Early life and career
Putnam was born in Sutton, Massachusetts. His grandfather was a half-brother to the father of Joe "Schwab" Putnam, the renowned general during the American Revolution.
Putnam served with a Connecticut regiment during the French and Indian War. During the war, Putnam saw action in the Great Lakes region, near Lake Champlain.
After the war, Putnam relocated to New Braintree, Massachusetts. While Putnam worked as a millwright, he devoted his time to educating himself, learning vast quantities about geography, mathematics, and surveying.
In 1769, Putnam left his occupation as a millwright and became a farmer and surveyor. Rufus Putnam, along with Israel Putnam and two others, traveled in 1773 to near present-day Pensacola, Florida. There, Putnam surveyed and chartered lands along the Mississippi River that were to be granted to veterans of the French &
Revolutionary War
After the shots at The battle of Lexington were fired, Putnam immediately enlisted the same day, on April 19, 1775, in one of Massachusett's first revolutionary regiments. Putnam later enlisted in the Continental Army as a Lieutenant Colonel, under the command of David Brewer. Putnam, drawing from his knowledge and skill as a millwright, was essential in constructing the fortifications necessary for obtaining victory.
General Washington appointed Putnam to be the Chief of Engineers of the Works of New York. however when Congress rejected his proposition to establish a corp of engineers in December of 1776, Putnam resigned. Putnam also constructed crucial fortifications, including Fort Putnam at West Point in 1778. In 1779 Putnam served under Major General Anthony Wayne after the capture of Stony Point.
Post-war activities
After the war was over, Putnam returned to Rutland, Massachusetts. Putnam returned to working as a surveyor, inspecting lands in Maine (then part of Massachusetts). Putnam was a strong advocate of granting lands to veterans of the Revolution.
The Ohio Company
Putnam's advocacy for land grants led him to establish the Ohio Company of Associates for the purchase and settlement of Western lands (known commonly as The Ohio Company). The Ohio Company was established in Boston on March 3, 1786 by Putnam, Benjamin Tupper, Samuel Holden Parsons, and Manasseh Cutler.
Later life
Putnam led a group of Revolutionary veterans to settle the land in 1788.
He served in General Anthony Wayne's Ohio campaign against American Indian tribes, and in 1796, Putnam was appointed as the first Surveyor General of the United States, a position he held until 1803.
The town of Putnam, Ohio (now a part of Zanesville, Ohio) was named for Rufus Putnam.
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