GAGE, THOMAS , (1721-87). An English sol dier and Oolonial Governor of Massachusetts, born at Firle, Sussex. He received a lieutenant's com mission in the English Army in January, 1741, participated in the battle of Culloden, served as aide-de-camp to Lord Albemarle in Flanders, and in 1751 became lieutenant-colonel of the Forty fourth Foot, with which in 1754 he Caine to America under General Braddock. In the latter part of the march against Fort Duquesne, be commanded the advance guard of Braddock's army. Subsequently he was stationed for a time at Oswego, raised a regiment of Provincial troops in 1758, and commanded it on Abercromby's dis astrous expedition against Ticonderoga; and in 1759, after the death of Colonel Prideaux. was sent as brigadier-general to replace Sir William Johnson at Niagara. He then served in the last campaign under General Amherst, was made Gov ernor of Montreal in 1760, was promoted to be major-general in 1761, and was commander-in chief of the English forces in America from 1763 to 1772, when he returned to England. In 1765, while stationed at New York, he was called upon by Governor Golden to enforce the Stamp Act (q.v.), but refused on the ground that a fire from the fort would be 'the commencement of a civil war.' Three years later he was ordered to Boston
to assist the civil magistrates and revenue officers there in carrying out the measures of the British Ministry. Early in 1774 he succeeded Hutchin son as Governor of Massachusetts, and again became commander-in-chief of the British Army in America. He was warmly welcomed on his arrival in Boston in May, but soon antagonized the popular party by his enforcement of the Min isterial measures, especially of the Boston Port Bill (q.v.) and the regulation acts. On June 30, 1774, he issued a proclamation against the 'sol emn league and covenant' not to purchase articles imported from Great Britain. On September 1st he seized the powder stored at Cambridge, and soon afterwards began to fortify Boston. On the night of April 18, 1775, he sent an expedition to Concord to destroy the Provincial stores there and to capture Samuel Adams and John Hancock. This led to the battle of Lexington on the follow ing day. (See LEXINGTON. ) He ordered the as sault upon Bunker (Breed's) Hill on June 17th, and as soon as the news of the action reached England was recalled, sailing from Boston on October 10, 1775. In April, 1782, he was pro moted to the rank of general.