Robert Magaw Defended this Position

Robert Magaw, a brave and unselfish patriot, was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1738. A member of the Committee of Safety in 1774, he became major of Thompson’s Battalion in 1775, colonel of the 5th Pennsylvania Battalion in 1776, and commandant of Fort Washington in 1776. Specially charged with that duty by General Washington, and, in his own words, “actuated by the most glorious cause that mankind ever fought in,” he defended this position during the momentous assault of November 16, 1776. He was captured on November 16, 1776, exchanged on October 25, 1780, became colonel of the 6th Pennsylvania Regiment in 1780, and died at Carlisle, Pennsylvania, on January 7, 1790.

New York, New York · United States