Richard Humpton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Richard Humpton
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Richard Humpton was interred at the Caln Meeting House burial ground.
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| Born | 1733 Yorkshire, England |
| Died | 21 December 1804 Caln Township, Chester Co., PA |
| Allegiance |  Great Britain United States |
| Service/ |
Infantry |
| Years of service | 1758–1759 1775–1783 |
| Rank | Captain Brevet Brigadier General |
| Battles/wars | Seven Years' War
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| Other work | Society of the Cincinnati |
Richard Humpton (1733 – 1804) was a military officer who fought in two major wars. He was born in Yorkshire, England. He first served in the British army. Later, he moved to America and joined the American forces during the American Revolutionary War. He became a high-ranking officer and played an important role in several key battles.
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Early Life and British Army Service
Richard Humpton was born in 1733 in Yorkshire, England. His parents were Richard Humpton and Dorothy Grindall. When he was older, he bought a "captain's commission." This meant he paid money to become a captain in the British Royal Army.
As a British officer, he fought in the Seven Years' War. One of his first battles was the Raid on St Malo in 1758. This was a British attack on a French port city. After this, he was sent to the West Indies. While there, he decided to leave the British army. He then moved to Pennsylvania in America, settling near the Susquehanna River.
Joining the American Revolution
When the American Revolutionary War began in 1775, Richard Humpton wanted to help the American side. He offered his skills to the "patriot cause," which was the fight for American independence. In 1776, he was made a lieutenant colonel. This is a high rank in the army.
Later that same year, he became a colonel. He was put in charge of the 11th Pennsylvania Regiment. One of his important tasks was to gather boats on the Delaware River. His careful work on this job helped the Americans win the important Battle of Trenton in December 1776.
Key Battles and Commands
Richard Humpton led the 2nd Pennsylvania Brigade in several major battles in 1777. These included the Battle of Brandywine and the Battle of Paoli in September. In October, he also led his brigade at the Battle of Germantown.
He was present at the Battle of Monmouth in 1778. Soon after, he took command of the 10th Pennsylvania Regiment. In 1781, he became the leader of the 6th Pennsylvania Regiment. Two years later, he moved to command the 2nd Pennsylvania Regiment.
Retirement and Later Life
In September 1783, Richard Humpton received a special promotion. He became a brevet brigadier general. A "brevet" rank is an honorary promotion, often given for good service. After this, he retired from the army. He went to live on his farm.
Even after retiring from the main army, he continued to serve. He became the adjutant general for the state militia. This meant he helped manage the state's citizen soldiers. He was also a member of the Society of the Cincinnati. This was a group for officers who fought in the Revolutionary War.
Richard Humpton married Elizabeth Morris, but they did not have any children. He passed away in 1804. He is buried in the cemetery of the Friends Meeting in Caln Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania.
