Thomas Gage, a British general and colonial governor of America was born in 1721 in Firle, Sussex, England. He entered the British army in 1741 and after serving in Scotland and Flanders for 13 years he went to America.

In America he was assigned lieutenant colonel under General Edward Braddock in the French and Indian war. In 1759 he participated in a successful operation against Quebec, therefore, he was appointed governor the following year.

In 1761 Gage was promoted major general and his unyielding character brought much attention to colonial authorities. From 1763 to 1775, Gage was commander of all British forces in America. He seemed tyrannical to Americans and weak to the British. Before he attempted his aggressive actions against the colonists in the American Revolutionary war, he became governor of Massachusetts.

When Gage tried to seize military supplies from patriots in April 1775, this resulted in the Battle of Lexington and Concord and the beginning of the American Revolution. Two months later he ordered the attack on American forces to occupy Breed’s Hill in the Battle of Bunker Hill, Thomas Gage resigned and returned to England, letting William Howe take his place. On April 2, 1787, Thomas Gage finally came upon his death.