History of Fort Warren, (Suffolk County) Massachusetts United States of America

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William Irvine, soldier, was born in county Fermanagh, Ulster, Ireland, Nov. 3, 1741. He was of Scotch ancestry and was educated at Ennis-killen, and at Dublin university. He was a physician and surgeon and joined the royal navy during the war with France, but resigned his commission as surgeon before the close of the war in order to emigrate to America. He located in Carlisle, Pa., in 1764, when he practised his profession and became identified with the cause of the colonists. He was made a delegate to the Provincial convention that met at Philadelphia, July 15, 1774, and in that body favored a Continental congress. When armed resistance took form he determined to join the army. He was made colonel of the 6th Pennsylvania line, which he had recruited, and led the regiment in the expedition against Canada, where he fought in the battle of Three Rivers, June 16, 1776; was taken prisoner, and was not exchanged till April 21, 1778. He was a member of the court-martial that convicted Gen. Charles Lee in 1778; the same year was given command of 2d Pennsylvania line, and on May 12, 1779, of the 2d brigade which, under Lord Sterling and General Wayne, took part in the unsuccessful expeditions against Staten Island and Bull's Ferry in 1780. He succeeded Gen. James Irvine to the command of the troops at Fort Pitt, where he was stationed, 1781-83. He was agent for the distribution of public lands to the soldiers, 1785-86, and secured a lake front for the state of Pennsylvania by the purchase of land on Lake Erie. He was a delegate to the Continental congress, 1786-88, and a representative in the 3d congress, 1793-95. Failing to secure peaceful compliance with the law on the part of the insurrectionists of western Pennsylvania, he was made commander of the Pennsylvania militia, and by show of force succeeded in restoring order. He was superintendent of military stores at Philadelphia, 1801-04, by appointment of President Jefferson, and was president of the state branch of the Society of the Cincinnati. His brother, Capt. Andrew, was an officer of the Revolutionary army throughout the war and died in Carlisle, Pa., May 4, 1789; another brother, Dr. Matthew, was surgeon in General Lee's division of the Revolutionary army. He was married to Anne Callendar, and their son, Callen-der, was a captain of artillery and engineers, U.S.A., 1798-1801, and succeeded his father as superintendent of military stores at Philadelphia; another son, Col. William N., served in the U.S. army, 1803-15, and another son, Capt. Armstrong, was graduated at the U.S. Military academy in 1811; served through the war of 1812; was captain in the regiment of his brother, Col. William N., was aide to General Ripley in 1816, and died at Fort Warren, Mass., Jan. 15, 1817. See The Washington-Irvine Letters by C. W. Butterfield (1882). General Irvine died in Philadelphia, Pa., July 29, 1804.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

History of Fort Warren, (Suffolk County) Massachusetts

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