William Hepburn was a lieutenant colonel of Pennsylvania militia, 3rd Battalion, and captain of Fifth Company, 4th Battalion. As commander of Fort Muncy at the time of the Big Runaway, he directed the Flight to Sunbury in July 1778. On April 19, 1800, he was brigadier general of the 1st Brigade serving Northumberland, Lycoming, and Luzerne Counties, and later major general of the 10th Division, composed of Lycoming, Tioga, Potter, Jefferson, McKean, and Clearfield Counties. He was the first state senator from Lycoming County, the first associate judge and first president judge of Lycoming County, the first merchant, and the first master of Blue Lodge Free and Accepted Masons No. 106. An outstanding pioneer in the development of Williamsport, Pennsylvania, he was instrumental in establishing the city as the county seat of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania.