Fort George, originally known by its garrison as Fort Penobscot and called Fort Castine by Admiral Sir George Collier in his reports, received its present name from its builder, British General Francis McLean, upon its completion in December 1779. Begun in June, it was unsuccessfully besieged from July 29 to August 13 by the combined American land and naval forces of the Penobscot Expedition, and it was the last post surrendered by the British at the close of the War for Independence. The British occupied the fort again on September 1, 1814, rebuilt it, mounted it with 60 cannon, and evacuated it a second time on April 27, 1815. Immediately taken possession of by the United States, it was again rebuilt, strengthened, and garrisoned until March 1819, when it was permanently abandoned as a military post. On June 18, 1780, General Peleg Wadworth and Major Benjamin Barton, held as prisoners of war and confined in the barracks, escaped by scaling the north wall during the night and then following the course of Wadsworth Road to the cove and safety. In 1811 Ebenezer Ball, and in 1825 Seth Elliot, were hung here for murder.