Marinus Willett
| Marinus Willett | |
|---|---|
|
|
| 48th Mayor of New York City | |
|
In office 1807–1808 |
|
| Preceded by | DeWitt Clinton |
| Succeeded by | DeWitt Clinton |
| Personal details | |
| Born | July 31, 1740 Jamaica, Queens |
| Died | August 22, 1830 (aged 90) New York City, New York |
| Resting place |
Trinity Churchyard (original) New York City Marble Cemetery (re-burial) |
Marinus Willett (July 31, 1740 – August 22, 1830) was an American soldier and political leader from New York. He was characterized by historian Mark M. Boatner as "one of the truly outstanding American leaders of the Revolution."
Willett was born in Jamaica, New York, on Long Island, the son of Edward Willett a school teacher and tavern operator.
He served in the militia during the French and Indian War. He received a commission as 2nd lieutenant in a New York regiment under the command of Oliver DeLancey Sr. which took part in General James Abercrombie's expedition to Fort Ticonderoga in 1758. His regiment was part of John Bradstreet's army in the Battle of Fort Frontenac. He became ill and stayed at Fort Stanwix until he recovered.
Tradition has it that between the wars he worked as a cabinetmaker.
During the early stages of the American Revolution, Willett became an informal leader of the Sons of Liberty in New York City. His main participation was as a rabble-rouser and street brawler. When news arrived on April 23, 1775 of the battles at Lexington and Concord he and others broke into the New York City arsenal and seized the weapons. On June 6, 1775 when the British soldiers in New York decided to evacuate the city, Willett stopped the soldiers from taking spare arms with them. On July 20, 1775 he and other members of the Sons of Liberty procured a sloop, surprised the guard, and captured a British storehouse at Turtle Bay.
On June 28, 1775, he joined the Continental Army with a commission of captain in the 1st New York Regiment, commanded by Alexander McDougall. Six weeks later the regiment took part in Richard Montgomery's Invasion of Canada (1775) and in December the Battle of Quebec (1775). In January, 1776 the enlistments in the regiment expired and the men started home. Willett arrived in New York City in March. In the defence of New York City later that year Willett lost a captain's commission in the 4th New York Regiment and participated as a militiaman.
...
Wikipedia