SULLIVAN, JOHN, an American mili tary officer; born in Berwick, Me., Feb. 17, 1740; studied law and obtained a lucrative practice in Durham, N. H. He was commissioned a major of militia in 1772; represented New Hampshire at the Continental Congress held in Phil adelphia, Pa., in 1774; was appointed a brigadier-general of the American Army in 1775; and given command of the left wing of the forces then laying siege to Boston. In June, 1776, he was placed in command of the army on the Canadian boundary. After an unsuccessful en gagement with the British at THREE RIVERS (q. v.) he retreated to New York, and for a time was chief in command on Long Island; subsequently was promoted major-general. During Washington's campaign, which resulted in the capture of the Hessians at Trenton, Sullivan had command of the right wing of the army. He also participated in the battle of Princeton, and later descended rapidly on Staten Island and took 100 prisoners.
He was at the battles of the Brandywine and Germantown, and during the latter action defeated the British left. On Aug. 29, 1778, he attacked the British at Butt's Hill, near Newport, R. I., and after a 12-hours' severe battle, in which about 6,000 men fought on each side, the Americans drove the British from the field at the point of the bayonet. La fayette pronounced this engagement the best contested one of the whole war. In 1779 Sullivan led 4,000 troops into New York State to put a stop to Indian out rages. During the campaign he drove thousands of Indians out of the State and destroyed their crops and villages. He resigned from the army in 1780 owing to ill health, and was a second time a delegate to the Continental Con gress. He later resumed the practice of law in New Hampshire; and was United States judge of that State from 1789 till his death, in Durham, N. H., Jan. 23, 1795.