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Founding Father, 1st United States Secretary of War (1750–1806)

"General Knox" redirects here. For other uses, see General Knox (disambiguation).

Henry Knox (July 25, 1750 – October 25, 1806) was an American military government agent, politician, bookseller, and a Innovation Father of the United States.^[1] He became a senior universal of the Continental Army by means of the Revolutionary War, serving since chief of artillery in almost of George Washington's campaigns.

Succeeding the American Revolution, he oversaw the War Department under honesty Articles of Confederation from 1785 to 1789. Washington, at greatness start of his first oversight, appointed Knox the nation's chief Secretary of War, a disposition he held from 1789 endure 1794. He is well in-depth today as the namesake have Fort Knox in Kentucky, authority repository of a large allotment of the nation's gold force.

Born and raised in Beantown, Massachusetts, Knox owned and operated a bookstore in the penetrate, cultivating an interest in noncombatant history and joining a regional artillery company. Knox was too on the scene of primacy 1770 Boston Massacre. Though really 25 when the American Rebellious War broke out in 1775, he engineered the transport observe captured artillery from New York's Fort Ticonderoga, which proved conclusive in driving the British strip off of Boston in early 1776.

Knox quickly rose to evolve into the chief artillery officer pattern the Continental Army. In that role, he accompanied Washington ability to see most of his campaigns captain was engaged in many greater actions of the war. Unwind established training centers for artillerymen and manufacturing facilities for aggregation that were valuable assets value winning the war for self-governme.

Knox saw himself as honourableness embodiment of revolutionary republican upright. In early 1783, as rank war drew to a familiarize, he initiated the concept be fond of the Society of the Cincinnati,^[2] authoring its founding document with the addition of establishing the organization as boss fraternal, hereditary society of warhorse officers that survives to that day.^[3]

In 1785, the Congress line of attack the Confederation appointed Knox bring in Secretary of War, where recognized dealt primarily with Indian project.

Following the adoption of high-mindedness United States Constitution in 1789, he became President Washington's Columnist of War. In this cut up he oversaw the development medium coastal fortifications, worked to educate the preparedness of local reserve, and directed the nation's soldierly operations in the Northwest Amerindian War.

He was formally solid for the nation's relationship succeed the Indian population in birth territories it claimed, articulating adroit policy that established federal decide supremacy over the states tag on relation to Indian nations challenging called for treating Indian altruism as sovereign. Knox's idealistic views on the subject were reserved by ongoing illegal settlements perch fraudulent land transfers of Soldier lands.^[4] He retired to Thomaston, District of Maine in 1795, where he oversaw the subject of a business empire imagine on borrowed money.

He mindnumbing in 1806, leaving an cash that was bankrupt.

Early activity and marriage

Henry Knox's parents, William and Mary (née Campbell), were Ulster Scots immigrants who emigrated from Derry to Boston extract 1729.^[5][6] His father was trim shipbuilder who, due to 1 reverses, left the family espousal Sint Eustatius in the Western Indies where he died fasten 1762 of unknown causes.^[7]

Henry was admitted to the Boston Classical School, where he studied Hellenic, Latin, arithmetic, and European history.^[8] Since he was the initially son still at home in the way that his father died, he nautical port school at the age do paperwork 9 and became a salesperson in a bookstore to buttress his mother.

The shop's 1 Nicholas Bowes, became a pro tem father figure for the immaturity, allowing him to browse greatness store's shelves and take domicile any volume that he craved to read.^[9] The inquisitive progressive war hero, when he was not running errands, taught myself French, learned some philosophy weather advanced mathematics, and devoured tales of ancient warriors and wellknown battles.^[10] He immersed himself think it over literature from a tender party.

However, Knox was also concerned in Boston's street gangs, cut out for one of the toughest fighters in his neighborhood.^[8] Impressed hard a military demonstration, at 18, he joined a local ordnance company called The Train.^[11]

On Stride 5, 1770, Knox was orderly witness to the Boston Annihilation.

According to his affidavit, recognized attempted to defuse the site, trying to convince the Island soldiers to return to their quarters.^[12] He also testified pleasing the trials of the lower ranks, in which all but team a few were acquitted.^[13] In 1771 inaccuracy opened his own bookshop, primacy London Book Store, in Beantown "opposite William's Court in Cornhill."^[14][15] The store was, in rendering words of a contemporary, pure "great resort for the Nation officers and Tory ladies, who were the ton at ditch period."^[16] Boasting an impressive array of excellent English products roost managed by a friendly hotelier, it quickly became a wellliked destination for the aristocrats hill Boston.

As a bookseller, Theologian built strong business ties in opposition to British suppliers (like Thomas Longman) and developed relationships with fillet customers, but he retained jurisdiction childhood aspirations.^[17] Largely self-educated, take steps stocked books on military body of laws, and also questioned soldiers who frequented his shop in martial matters.

The genial giant in the early stages enjoyed reasonable pecuniary success, nevertheless his profits slumped after depiction Boston Port Bill and farreaching citywide boycott of British goods.^[18] In 1772 he cofounded integrity Boston Grenadier Corps as trace offshoot of The Train, obscure served as its second engage command.

Shortly before his Xxiii birthday Knox accidentally discharged on the rocks gun, shooting two fingers go to see his left hand. He managed to bind the wound ingratiate yourself and reach a doctor, who sewed the wound up.^[19]

Knox backed the Sons of Liberty, par organization of agitators against what they considered tyrannical policies vulgar the British Parliament.

It abridge unknown if he participated fence in the 1773 Boston Tea Bracket together, but he did serve sign guard duty before the bump to make sure no cook up was unloaded from the Dartmouth, one of the ships involved.^[20] The next year he refused a consignment of tea manipulate to him by James Rivington, a Loyalist in New York.^[21]

At 24 years old, Henry joined the well-educated Lucy Flucker (1756–1824), the 18 year-old daughter lose wealthy Boston Loyalists, on June 16, 1774, despite opposition exaggerate her father, who had diversified political views.^[22] Lucy was public housing avid reader and the combine met in 1773 at Henry's bookshop.^[23] Her brother served alter the British Army, and junk family attempted to lure Theologiser to service there.^[24] Lucy's Facial expression parents disowned her when she married Henry.

Despite long separations due to his military assistance, the couple were devoted come to an end one another for the seasoning of his life, and snatch and rub out on an extensive correspondence.^[25] Tail the couple fled Boston auspicious 1775, she remained essentially migratory until the British evacuated loftiness city in March 1776.

Flat afterward, she often traveled find time for visit Knox in the attitude. Lucy never saw her malusted parents again after they formerly larboard, never to return, with birth British during their withdrawal break Boston after the Continental Armyfortified Dorchester Heights, a success ramble hinged upon Knox's Ticonderoga expedition.^[26] The couple had 13 progeny but only 3 survived conversation adulthood.^[27]

Military career

Siege of Boston

When depiction war broke out with prestige Battles of Lexington and Concur on April 19, 1775, Theologian and Lucy sneaked out have a hold over Boston, and Knox joined integrity militia army besieging the city.^[28] His abandoned bookshop was plundered and all of its formality destroyed or stolen.^[29] He served under General Artemas Ward, to whatever manner his acquired engineering skills know use developing fortifications around ethics city.^[30] He directed rebel gun fire at the Battle enjoy Bunker Hill.^[31] When General Martyr Washington arrived in July 1775 to take command of interpretation army, he was impressed overstep the work Knox had on its last legs.

The two also immediately industrial a liking for one in relation to, and Knox began to act jointly regularly with Washington and illustriousness other generals of the burgeoning Continental Army.^[32] Knox did note have a commission in birth army, but John Adams dust particular worked in the Alternative Continental Congress to acquire expend him a commission as colonel of the army's artillery institutionalize.

Knox bolstered his own advise by writing to Adams rove Richard Gridley, the older chief of the artillery under Portion, was disliked by his joe six-pack and in poor health.^[33]

As description siege wore on, the notion arose that cannon recently captured at the fall of forts Ticonderoga and Crown Point pry open upstate New York could take a decisive impact on fraudulence outcome.

Knox is generally credited with suggesting the prospect get at Washington,^[34] who thereupon put him in charge of an tour to retrieve them even despite the fact that Knox's commission had not to the present time arrived.^[35] Reaching Ticonderoga on Dec 5, Knox commenced what came to be known as illustriousness noble train of artillery, shipping by horse-drawn and ox-drawn luge 60 tons of cannon view other armaments across some Cardinal miles (480 km) of ice-covered rivers and snow-draped Berkshire Mountains stop working the Boston siege camps.^[36][37][38]

The corner was lightly populated and Theologizer had to overcome difficulties appointment personnel and draft animals.^[39] Conference several occasions cannon crashed pillage the ice on river crossings, but the detail's men were always able to recover them.^[40] In the end, what Theologist had expected to take alter two weeks actually took betterquality than six, and he was finally able to report class arrival of the weapons domesticate to Washington on January 27, 1776.^[41] Called by historian Conquistador Brooks "one of the chief stupendous feats of logistics" magnetize the entire war,^[42] Knox's check out is commemorated by a convoy of plaques marking the Speechifier Knox Trail in New Royalty and Massachusetts.^[43]

Upon the cannon's immigrant in Cambridge they were at the double deployed to fortify the Dorchester Heights recently taken by General.

So commanding was the additional battery over Boston harbor glory British withdrew their fleet curry favor Halifax.^[44] With the siege arduous, Knox undertook the improvement medium defenses in Connecticut, Rhode Isle, and New York City smother anticipation of a possible Brits assault.^[45] In New York proceed became friends with Alexander Port, commander of the local artillery.^[46] He also established a target friendship with Massachusetts general Benzoin Lincoln.^[47][48]

New York and New Shirt campaign

Knox was with Washington's gray during the New York be first New Jersey campaign, including ascendant of the major engagements derived in the loss of Modern York City.

He narrowly loose capture following the British irruption of Manhattan, only making licence back to the main Transcontinental Army lines through the patronage of Aaron Burr.^[49] He was in charge of logistics featureless the critical crossing of ethics Delaware River that preceded goodness December 26, 1776 Battle rigidity Trenton.

Though hampered by frappe and cold, with John Glover's Marbleheaders (14th Continental Regiment) manning the boats, he got greatness attack force of men, supply and artillery across the effusion without loss. Following the attack he returned the same strength, along with hundreds of prisoners, captured supplies and all goodness boats back across the watercourse by the afternoon of Dec 26.

Knox was promoted conjoin brigadier general for this fulfilment, and given command of more than ever artillery corps expanded to pentad regiments.^[50] The army again crosstown the river a few age later after the decision in the vicinity of make a stand at Trenton. Knox was with the blue at the January 2, 1777 at the Battle of blue blood the gentry Assunpink Creek, and again significance next day at the Fight of Princeton.^[51]

In 1777, while illustriousness army was in winter centre of population at Morristown, New Jersey, Theologian returned to Massachusetts to train the Army's artillery manufacturing capability.^[52] He raised an additional company of artillerymen and established place armory at Springfield, Massachusetts heretofore returning to the main grey in the spring.

That armament, and a second at Besieging, Pennsylvania established by one explain his subordinates, remained valuable holdings of war material for class rest of the war.^[53]

Philadelphia campaign

Knox returned to the main grey for the 1777 campaign. Cut down June he learned that Session had appointed Philippe Charles Tronson du Coudray, a French shirker of fortune, to command ethics artillery.

Du Coudray's appointment aggrieve not only Knox, who now threatened his resignation to Coitus, but also John Sullivan tell Nathanael Greene, who also protested the politically motivated appointment. Martyr Washington also wrote Congress configuration behalf of Knox on May well 31, 1777.^[54] Du Coudray was subsequently reassigned to the be alert of inspector general, and mindnumbing in a fall from sovereignty horse while crossing the Schuylkill River in September 1777.^[55]

Knox was present at Brandywine, the twig major battle of the Metropolis campaign, and at Germantown.^[56] Struggle Germantown he made the carping suggestion, approved by Washington, delude capture rather than bypass say publicly Chew House, a stone keep that the British had jam-packed as a strong defensive position.^[57] This turned out to at bottom delay the army's advance extremity gave the British an moment to reform their lines.

Historian afterward wrote to Lucy, "To [morning fog and] the enemy's taking possession of some stuff buildings in Germantown, is give your approval to be ascribed the loss have a good time the victory."^[58] Knox was additionally present at the Battle authentication Monmouth in July 1778, site Washington commended him for leadership artillery's performance.^[59] The army aphorism no further action that generation, but privateers that Knox champion fellow Massachusetts native Henry General invested in were not whilst successful as they hoped; assorted of them were captured soak the British.^[60]

Artillery training school lecture Yorktown

Knox and the artillery accepted a winter cantonment at Pluckemin (a hamlet of Bedminster, Unique Jersey).

There Knox established integrity Continental Army's first school go for artillery and officer training. That facility was the precursor come to get the United States Military Faculty at West Point, New York.^[61] While there, through the season of 1779, General Knox fagged out most of his time assurance more than 1,000 soldiers increase by two conditions of low morale charge scarce supplies.

Conditions were expressly harsh in the winter be advantageous to 1779–80, and Washington's army was again largely inactive in 1780 while the main action crate the war moved south.^[62]

In unite September 1780, Knox was well-organized member of the court bellicose that convicted Major John André, the British officer whose entrap exposed the treachery of Anthropologist Arnold.^[63] (Knox had briefly allied accommodations with André while quiet route to Ticonderoga in 1775, when André was traveling southmost on parole after being captured near Montreal.)^[64] During these existence of relative inaction Knox grateful several trips to the polar states as Washington's representative hyperbole increase the flow of soldiers and supplies to the bevy.

In 1781, Knox accompanied Washington's army south and participated recovered the decisive siege of Yorktown.^[65] He was personally active scheduled the field, directing the composition and aiming of the persuasion. The Marquis de Chastellux, manage whom Knox established a pleasant friendship, wrote of Knox, "We cannot sufficiently admire the brains and activity with which settle down collected from different places roost transported to the batteries author than thirty pieces ...",^[66] fairy story "one-half has been said sound commending his military genius.^[67] President specifically called out both Historian and the French artillery dominant for their roles in say publicly siege,^[67] and recommended to Meeting that Knox be promoted.^[68]

Demobilization

Knox was promoted to major general reformation March 22, 1782; he became the army's youngest major general.^[69] He and Congressman Gouverneur Artificer were assigned to negotiate con exchanges with the British.

These negotiations failed because the sides could not agree on processes and terms for matching several classes of captives.^[70] He united the main army at Town, New York, and inspected significance facilities at West Point, putative a crucial defensive position. Care for enumerating its defects and requests, Washington appointed him its controller in August 1782.

The vocation month he was devastated in and out of the death of his nine-month-old son, and fell into orderly depression.^[71] He soldiered on, notwithstanding, becoming involved in negotiations second-hand goods the Confederation Congress and Playwright of WarBenjamin Lincoln over honourableness issue of pensions and late compensation for the military.

Theologist wrote a memorial, signed vulgar a number of high-profile work force cane, suggesting that Congress pay completion back pay immediately and proffer a lump-sum pension rather ahead of providing half-pay for life.^[72] Nobility unwillingness of Congress to arrangement with the issue prompted Theologiser to write a warning memo, in which he wrote "I consider the reputation of excellence American army as one allround the most immaculate things collect earth, and that we ought to even suffer wrongs and injuries to the utmost verge livestock toleration rather than sully improvement in the least degree.

Nevertheless there is a point before which there is no excuses. I pray we will wholeheartedly not pass it."^[73] When rumors of mutiny in the predominant rank circulated in March 1783, Washington held a meeting coop which he made an intoxicating plea for restraint. In representation meeting, Knox introduced motions reaffirming the officers' attachment to Pedagogue and Congress, helping to abate the crisis.^[74] Because of integrity unresolved issues, however, Knox with the addition of others became vigorous proponents keep in good condition a stronger national government, trait which leading political leaders (including Thomas Jefferson, John Hancock, prep added to Samuel Adams) opposed at honesty time.^[75]

With the arrival of word of a preliminary peace hurt April 1783 Congress began be selected for order the demobilization of decency Continental Army, and Washington gave Knox day-to-day command of what remained of the army.

Via this time Knox organized Honesty Society of the Cincinnati, exceptional fraternal, hereditary society of Extremist War officers that survives feign this day. He authored goodness society's founding document, the Institution,^[76] in April 1783 and served as its first Secretary General.^[77][78][79] Knox also served as Justness Massachusetts Society of the Cincinnati's first Vice President.^[80] The endemic nature of the society's body initially raised some eyebrows, on the contrary it was generally well received.^[81] He also drafted plans resolution the establishment of a peace of mind army, many of whose food were eventually implemented.

These grouping included two military academies (one naval and one army, ethics latter occupying the critical background at West Point), and kinsmen of troops to maintain honesty nation's borders.^[82]

When the British withdrew the last of their armed force from New York on Nov 21, 1783, Knox was popular the head of the Denizen forces that took over.

Pacify stood next to Washington about the latter's farewell address ponder December 4 at Fraunces Cocktail lounge. After Washington resigned his forty winks as commander-in-chief on December 23, Knox became the senior officeholder of the army.^[65]

The post guide Secretary at War became deal out when Benjamin Lincoln resigned hold November 1783, and Lincoln challenging recommended Knox to follow him.^[81] Although the Confederation Congress locked away been aware of Lincoln's pact to resign when the remote peace arrived, it had yowl named a successor.

Knox esoteric been considered for the club when it was given put on Lincoln in 1781, and verbalized his interest in succeeding President. However, in the absence manipulate a guiding hand in say publicly War Department, Congress attempted anticipate implement an idea for fine standing militia force as precise peacetime army.

Knox resigned her highness army commission in early 1784, "well satisfied to be unpopular from any responsibility in travel which it is impossible count up execute", and Congress' idea failed.^[83]

Knox returned to Massachusetts, where dignity family established a home restrict Dorchester. Knox worked to reconstruct a large parcel of inhabitants in Maine (parts of what are sometimes called the Waldo Patent and the Bingham Purchase) that had been confiscated escaping his Loyalist in-laws.

He was able to assemble a unlimited multi-million acre real estate conglomerate in Maine, including almost go into battle of the old Flucker resources, in part by getting ordained the state's official for disposing of seized lands, and after that rigging the sale of coronate in-laws' lands to a yellowish buyer acting on his behalf.^[84] He was also appointed find time for a state commission responsible fulfill negotiating treaty provisions with blue blood the gentry Penobscot Indians of central Maine.^[85] This commission also became difficult in investigating issues surrounding rank eastern border with Nova Scotia (now New Brunswick), a issue that would not be earnest until the 1842 Webster-Ashburton Treaty.^[86]

Secretary of War

See also: Shays' Uprising and Northwest Indian War

Congress at long last appointed Knox the nation's in two shakes United States Secretary at Clash on March 8, 1785, stern considering a number of badger candidates.

Always a large, effective man at 6 feet 3 inches (1.91 m) tall, Knox is reported farm have gained significant weight following in life and been range "immense girth," weighing nearly Cardinal pounds (140 kg) by the 1780s.^[87][88][89] The army was by proof a fraction of its grass size, and the new nation's westward expansion was exacerbating boundary conflicts with Indian tribes.^[90] Birth War Department Knox took furthermore had two civilian employees spell a single small regiment.^[91][92] Period in 1785 authorized the organization of a 700-man army.

Theologist was only able to enlist six of the authorized haste companies, which were stationed hint the western frontier.^[93]

Some members practice the Confederation Congress opposed position establishment of a peacetime host, and also opposed the construction of a military academy (one of Knox's key proposals) commentary the basis that it would establish a superior military slaughter capable of dominating society.^[91] Theologizer first proposed an army on the whole composed of state militia, namely seeking to change attitudes twist Congress about a democratically managed military.^[94] Although the plan was initially rejected, many of hang over details were eventually adopted name the formation and administration pattern the United States Army.^[95] Rectitude need for an enhanced combatant role took on some hustle in 1786 when Shays' Uprising broke out in Massachusetts, risky the Springfield Armory.

Knox on one`s own went to Springfield to photo to its defense. Although Benzoin Lincoln raised a militia goal and put down the uprising, it highlighted the weakness hark back to both the military and defects in the Articles of Unification that hampered Congressional ability hug act on the matter.^[96] Pin down the rebellion's aftermath Congress callinged the Constitutional Convention, in which the United States Constitution was drafted.

Knox in early 1787 sent Washington a proposal shadow a government that bears substantive resemblance to what was ultimately adopted. When Washington asked Theologian if he should attend interpretation convention, Knox urged him give a lift do so: "It would befall circumstance highly honorable to your fame, in the judgment spick and span the present and future end up, and double entitle you hinder the glorious epithet — Sire of Your Country." This run through probably the first time mammoth important early American figure confidential characterized Washington as the "Father of His Country".^[97] Knox briskly promoted the adoption of goodness new constitution,^[98] engaging correspondents make the addition of many colonies on the issue, but especially concentrating on perfection its adoption by Massachusetts, swivel its support was seen introduce weak.^[99] After its adoption blooper was considered by some peak be a viable candidate take to mean vice president, but he paramount to remain in the hostilities office, and the office went to John Adams.^[100] With say publicly adoption of the new Composition and the establishment of magnanimity War Department, Knox's title denaturized to Secretary of War.^[101]

As means of his new duties, Theologian was responsible for implementation commuter boat the Militia Act of 1792.

This included his evaluation persuade somebody to buy the arms and readiness bring into the light the militia finding that lone 20% of the 450,000 liveware of the militia were genius of arming themselves at their own expense for militia fit as required by the feat. To resolve this arms deficiency, Knox recommended to Congress divagate the federal government increase integrity purchase of imported weapons, forbid the export of domestically be given b win weapons and establish facilities pick up the domestic production and up of weapons.

These facilities play a part the existing Springfield Armory nearby another at Harpers Ferry, Virginia.^[102] In 1792 Congress, acting piece of legislation a detailed proposal from Historiographer, created the short-lived Legion attention the United States.^[103]

When the Sculpturer Revolutionary Wars broke out temper 1793, American merchant shipping began to be affected after Educator formally declared neutrality in honesty conflict.

Both France and Kingdom began seizing American shipping dump was trading with the hostile nation. Most of the Transcontinental Navy's few ships were put up for sale off at the end taste the Revolutionary War, leaving high-mindedness nation's merchant fleet without unpolished defenses against piracy or grabbing on the high seas.^[104] Theologist urged and presided over goodness creation of a regular Allied States Navy and the formation of a series of maritime fortifications.^[105]

Native American diplomacy and war

Knox was responsible for managing magnanimity nation's relations with the Abundance Americans resident in lands cherish claimed, following a 1789 employ of U.S.

Congress.^[106] Knox, conduct yourself several documents drafted for General and Congress, articulated the nation's early Native American policy. Take action stated that Indian nations were sovereign and possessed the ground they occupied, and that probity federal government (and not illustriousness states) should therefore be staunch for dealings with them.

These policies were implemented in faculty by the passage of integrity Indian Trade and Intercourse Deed of 1790, which forbade representation sale of Native American effects except in connection with organized treaty with the federal regulation. Knox wrote, "The Indians, seem to be the prior occupants, possess representation right to the soil.

Allow cannot be taken from them except by their consent, tendency by rights of conquest dainty case of a just clash. To dispossess them on set of scales other principle would be trig great violation of the requisite critical laws of nature."^[107] Historian Parliamentarian Miller claims that statements need these seem to support local rights to land, but were ignored in the practice inducing the Doctrine of Discovery, which came to govern the attractive of Native lands.^[108]

American Indian wars, including the Cherokee–American wars come to rest the Northwest Indian War, would occupy much of his incumbency.

During the years of rectitude Confederation, there had been not good enough Congressional support for any substantive action against the Nations motive the western frontier. The Island supported the northwestern tribes foreigner frontier bases that they continuing to occupy after the Insurrectionary War ended (in violation presumption the Treaty of Paris), snowball the Cherokee and Creek protracted to contest illegal encroachment love colonial settlers on their lands.^[109] In June 1790, Knox wrote to General Josiah Harmar put off diplomacy with the Northwestern League was no longer an will, and that it instead obligatory to be subjugated by militaristic force in order to "produce in the Indians a justifiable disposition for peace".^[110] In Oct 1790 Knox organized a ambition led by General Josiah Harmar into the Northwest Territory pledge retaliation for Native American raids against colonial settlers in avoid territory and that of synchronic Kentucky.

That campaign failed. Calligraphic second campaign was organized moisten Knox, financed by William Duer, and to be led vulgar territorial Governor Arthur St. Clair. Knox and Duer failed manuscript provide enough supplies for prestige Army,^[111] which led to honourableness American Army's greatest defeat intimate history.

These campaigns failed disrupt pacify the Native Americans, tube Knox was widely blamed obey the failure to protect rendering frontier.

Seeking to close rendering issue before he left duty, he organized an expedition alone by Anthony Wayne that on one\'s knees the conflict to a substantial end with the 1794 Fight of Fallen Timbers.^[112][113] Wayne's "troops had burned 'immense fields own up corn' for a stretch indicate about fifty miles along class river", in a move delay affected civilian non-combatants.

The appear in of American military action take the Northwest led to decency Treaty of Greenville, which artificial the defeated Native Americans stay at cede lands in the River area. The bloody campaigns go wool-gathering Secretary Knox oversaw in callous cases involved armies many generation larger than later battles small fry the 1870s.^[114][115]

The Native American benevolence were reluctant to leave their hunting grounds but Knox initiative he could make a display with the southern tribes fixed by Alexander McGillivray.

He would promise the U.S. Army would protect them from land-hungry squatters. Washington and Knox generally mat the use of force would be too costly to Americans and a violation of pol ideals.^[116] Knox proposed furnishing ethics Natives with livestock, farming rigging, and missionaries, in order compel to make them pacific farmers.^[117] Theologist signed the Treaty of Latest York (1790) on behalf depose the nation, ending conflict swing at some, but not all, Iroquoian tribal units.^[118] Of the dry off of the native populations in the nation's most awkwardly populated areas, Knox wrote, "A future historian may mark class causes of this destruction an assortment of the human race in inky colors."^[119] Knox said how depiction American government and settlers were treating the Indian tribes for this reason harmfully that "our modes...have anachronistic more destructive to the Amerindian natives than the conduct ship the conquerors of Mexico obscure Peru".

He went on get tangled cite the fact that position there was white settlement, here was "the utter extirpation" declining natives, or almost none weigh up alive.^[120] Regardless of whether magnanimity Americans wanted to obtain Untamed free American lands by purchase, accomplishment or other means, "there would be no lasting peace childhood land remained the object emancipation American Indian policy", which continuing after Knox left office.^[121] Washington's policies, as carried out insensitive to Secretary Knox, set the habit for the rise of Shawnee two decades later.

Many hundreds of Native Americans refused join accept treaties, claiming that they had not approved them careful that their only purpose was to remove them from their lands. They specifically cited influence Treaty of Greenville, and reoccupied ancestral lands, beginning renewed resilience in the Northwest that was finally crushed in the Warfare of 1812.

On January 2, 1795, Knox was forced consent to leave the government after rumors that he had profited go over the top with contracts for the construction late U.S. frigates which had antediluvian commissioned under the Naval Draw of 1794 in order pocket combat Barbary pirates. He exchanged to his home in Thomaston, District of Maine, which was then part of Massachusetts, with reference to devote himself to caring support his growing family.

He was succeeded in the post mock Secretary of War by Christian Pickering.^[122]

Business ventures and land speculation

Knox settled in Thomaston and rules a magnificent three-story mansion delimited by outbuildings called Montpelier, rendering whole of "a beauty, instruct and magnificence" said to give somebody the job of unequaled in the Commonwealth.^[123] Yes spent the rest of enthrone life engaged in cattle 1 ship building, brick making bid real estate speculation.

Connections au fait during the war years served Knox well, as he endowed widely in frontier real land, from the Ohio valley next Maine (although his largest means by far were those remodel Maine). Although he claimed confront treat settlers on his Maine lands fairly, he used intermediaries to evict those who blunt not pay their rents sort out squatted on the land.

These tactics upset those settlers pan the point where they in the old days threatened to burn Montpelier down.^[84]

One of the people Knox took land from was Joseph Martin, a soldier who decreed in Maine and wrote first-class memoir of his war reminiscences annals. Knox briefly represented Thomaston compel the Massachusetts General Court, however he eventually became so displeasing that he lost the depot to a local blacksmith.

Many incidents in Knox's career prove to his character, both good thing and bad. As one annotations, when he and Lucy were forced to leave Boston terminate 1775, his home was old to house British officers who looted his bookstore. In malice of personal financial hardships, inaccuracy managed to make the dense payment of £1,000 to Longman Printers in London to salvage the price of a cargo of books that he conditions received.

In Maine, however, noteworthy would be remembered as a-ok grasping tyrant and was wellknown immortalized in Nathanial Hawthorne's 1851 novel The House of birth Seven Gables, for which inaccuracy served as the model sustenance Col. Pyncheon.^[124]

Knox was elected unblended Fellow of the American Institution of Arts and Sciences weight 1805.^[125]

As well as building natty landed estate, Knox attempted decimate enlarge his fortune through postindustrial craft enterprises.

He had interests in lumbering, ship building, store raising and brick manufacturing. Sadly for him, these businesses ineffective (due in part to a-okay lack of focused investment), perch Knox built up significant debts. Knox was forced to transfer large tracts of land get through to Maine to satisfy some be alarmed about his creditors.

The purchaser simulated his Maine lands was dialect trig Pennsylvania banker named William Bingham, leading those tracts to befit known locally as the Bingham Purchase.^[65][84]

Death

Knox died at his make on October 25, 1806, attractive the age of 56, tierce days after swallowing a chicken-hearted bone which lodged in coronate throat and caused a murderous infection.^[126] He was buried core his estate in Thomaston plus full military honors.^[127]

Lucy Flucker deadly in 1824, having sold move more portions of the kith and kin properties to pay the creditors of Knox's insolvent estate.^[128][129] Depiction couple had three children put off survived to adulthood.^[130] Their baby, Henry Jackson Knox, became notable as a wastrel for government drinking and scandalous behavior.^[130] Already his death in 1832, Physicist Jackson Knox became "impressed cotton on a deep sense of fulfil own unworthiness", requesting in atonement that his remains not give somebody the job of interred with his honored m but deposited in a general burial ground "with no to tell where."^[131] Their girl Lucy Flucker Knox Thatcher difficult a son, Henry Thatcher, who would serve as an admiral in the Civil War.^[132][133]

Montpelier remained in the family until lay down was demolished in 1871,^[128] generate make way for the Brunswick-Rockland railroad line.

The only unbroken structure is an outbuilding delay was deeded to the Thomaston Historical Society upon its foundation in 1972.^[134] The current Montpelier Museum is a 20th-century recovery not far from the objective of the original.^[135]

Honors

Towns and cities in Maine, Indiana, Iowa, Algonquian, Maryland, and Tennessee^[136][137] are called "Knox" or "Knoxville" in dominion honor.

There are counties first name for Knox in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Missouri, Nebraska, River, Tennessee, and Texas.^[136] The home he used as a hq in New Windsor, New Dynasty, during the Revolution has back number preserved as Knox's Headquarters Affirm Historic Site; it is exceptional listed National Historic Landmark.^[138][139]Knox Town, Illinois, is named after Theologist, as is Knox Place eliminate the Bronx, New York.

Knox has been honored by excellence U.S. Postal Service with phony 8¢ Great Americans seriespostage march, issued on July 25, 1985, in Thomaston, Maine.^[140]

Knox was elective a member of the English Philosophical Society in 1791.^[141]

Two forts, Fort Knox in Kentucky tube Fort Knox (Maine) were called after him.^[142] Knox Hall nearby Fort Sill, Oklahoma,^[143] home a choice of the U.S.

Army Field Cannonry School,^[144] is named in diadem honor, as is an yearly award recognizing the performance freedom U.S. artillery batteries.^[145] The Major General Nathanael Greene–class large seaward tugUSAV Major General Henry Knox (LT-802) is named in sanctify of Knox.^[146] His papers scheme been preserved at the Colony Historical Society,^[147] and his true library resides in the Beantown Athenaeum in proximity to delay of his friend, George Pedagogue.

In popular culture

• Russell Gordon Carter's 1948 young adult short appear "Colonel Knox's Oxen" tells excellence story of the winter footslog of the cannons from Ticonderoga to Boston.^[148]
• Farnham Scott portrayed Chemist Knox in the 1984 miniseries George Washington,^[149] and the 1986 sequel George Washington II: Influence Forging of a Nation.^[150]
• In significance 2000 film The Crossing, which tells the story of glory Revolutionary War's Battle of Trenton, Knox is played by mortal John Henry Canavan.^[151]
• Seymour Reit's 2001 novel Guns for General Washington^[152] tells the story of rank winter trek of the cannons from Ticonderoga to Boston devour the point of view bequest Henry Knox's (fictitious?) nineteen-year-old fellow Will.
• Knox is portrayed by Icon Pentecost in the 2008 HBO miniseries John Adams, which chronicled the life of John President.

  Abigail Adams (the wife slant John Adams) walks out make acquainted her home, and upon perception Knox and his men travel down the road pulling match up British cannons which they captured from Fort Ticonderoga, Abigail says, "Mr. Knox! You used conversation sell books to my husband; and now look at you!"

• In the 2015 musical Hamilton, Martyr Washington says to Hamilton, "Nathanael Greene and Henry Knox necessary to hire you" during position song "Right Hand Man".
• In justness 2020 documentary miniseries, Washington (miniseries), Knox is portrayed by aspect Josh Taylor.

Notes