Christopher Greene
| Christopher Greene | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born |
May 12, 1737 Warwick, Colony of Rhode Island, British America |
| Died | May 13 or May 14, 1781 (aged 44) Westchester County, New York, U.S. |
| Allegiance |
 United States of America
|
| Service/branch |
 Continental Army
|
| Years of service | 1774-1781 |
| Rank | Colonel (1776–1781) |
| Unit |
 1st Rhode Island Regiment
|
| Battles/wars | |
| Relations | Nathanael Greene (third cousin), Governor William Greene (second cousin), Griffin Greene (brother-in-law) |
Christopher Greene (May 12, 1737 – May 1781) was an American legislator and soldier. He is best known for leading the spirited defense of Fort Mercer in the 1777 Battle of Red Bank, and for leading the African American 1st Rhode Island Regiment during the American Revolutionary War, most notably with distinction in the 1778 Battle of Rhode Island. He was killed in May 1781 by Loyalists, possibly because he was known to lead African American troops.
Greene was born 12 May 1737 at Occupessatuxet, a village of the town of Warwick, Rhode Island, to Judge Phillip Greene and Elizabeth (Wickes) Greene. On May 6, 1757, Greene married his third cousin Anna Lippitt, born November 15, 1735, the daughter of Jeremiah Lippitt and Welthian Greene, both descended from a distinguished Rhode Island colonial family, Jeremiah was the Town Clerk of Warwick, from June 1742 to his death in 1776, with the exception of the year 1775. He was a deputy to the General Assembly for four years, and Assistant five years.
Greene and Anna would have nine children together. When Greene's father died in 1761, Greene inherited the family's mill estate and ran the business until he became an officer in the Continental Army. He served in the Rhode Island Legislature from 1772 to 1774. Greene was chosen a lieutenant of the Kentish Guards 1774.
In May 1775, he was appointed a major in the Army of Observation by the Rhode Island legislature. He was given command of a company and marched to Cambridge, Massachusetts, in support of the rebellion against British rule. In 1775 George Washington put him in charge of a Continental regiment in Cambridge under the command of Benedict Arnold. Greene's regiment was part of Arnold's expedition through present-day Maine to attack the British garrison at Quebec. In the assault on that city, Greene led a detachment of troops, and after Arnold was wounded Greene was taken prisoner. He was exchanged after eight months' confinement.
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Wikipedia