Colonial leader, born in Kittery, Maine, USA. He was a successful merchant, a chief justice, and an amateur soldier. Following the Yankee capture of Fort Louisbourg under his leadership, he was made a baronet.
Sir William Pepperrell, 1st Baronet (June 27, 1696 – July 6, 1759) was a merchant and soldier in Colonial Massachusetts. He is most remembered for organising, financing, and leading the expedition that captured the French establishment at Fortress Louisbourg during King George's War.
William was a native of Kittery, Maine, then part of Massachusetts, and lived there all his life.
Pepperrell served in the Massachusetts General Court (1726-1727), and in the Governor's Council (1727-1759), of which for eighteen years he was president.
During the War of the Austrian Succession, known in America as King George's War (the third part of the French and Indian Wars), he proposed the Massachusetts plan for an expedition against the French colony in Nova Scotia.
He was made a baronet for his exploits in 1746, the first New Englander so honoured, and ultimately promoted to Lieutenant General.
In 1755, during the Seven Years' War, known in America as the French and Indian War (the fourth part of the French and Indian Wars), he was made a Major General responsible for the defence of the Maine and New Hampshire frontier. Throughout that war he was instrumental in raising and training troops for the Massachusetts colony. Two regiments were raised locally with funds supplied by the British Crown, entering the army list as the 50th (Shirley's) and 51st (Pepperrell's) Regiments of Foot. Surrounded and besieged by a French force under Montcalm, both regiments surrendered after the local commander was killed.
The town of Pepperell, Massachusetts is named for him.
Book
He published: Conference with the Penobscot Tribe, (Boston, 1753)
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