Massachusetts Governor Thomas Gage, as painted by John Singleton Copley
Thomas Gage (1719-1787) was a British general and royal governor of the colony of Massachusetts at the outbreak of the North American Rebellion. After serving with mixed success during the French and Indian War, Gage was appointed commander-in-chief of British forces in North America in 1764. As domestic tensions with the colonists increased, he withdrew troops from the frontier to strengthen his control of New York City (where he was largely resident) and Boston. He returned to England in 1773, but was sent back with reinforcements when Parliament ordered the closure of the port of Boston, and made governor of Massachusetts.
Concerned by rebel military preparations in 1775, Gage ordered the raid in April that led to the outbreak of hostilities, and found himself besieged in Boston by rebel militia. His plan to relieve the siege in June was discovered, leading to the rebel fortification of Charlestown and the ensuing Battle of Bunker Hill, where these fortifications were taken at the cost of a thousand British casualties. The government blamed him for the mismanaged battle and recalled him, placing in command General William Howe, who had directly led the assault on Bunker Hill. After returning to Britain he played no further role in North American history.