American Revolutionary War Leaders: A Biographical Dictionary

by Bud Hannings

Overview

This massive biographical reference work covers both well-known and obscure figures from a variety of backgrounds including soldiers, politicians, plantation owners, farmers, and more. Information is included for officers of the Continental Army, Navy, and Marines; leaders of state militias, for whom much information has been previously inaccessible; the signers of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, and its framers; diplomats and governors; and, importantly, the women who were instrumental during the Revolution. Entries describe each individual from birth to death and provide genealogical information when available.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780786454594
Publisher:	McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers
Publication date:	10/21/2009
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	558
File size:	7 MB
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Bud Hannings oversees Seniram Publishing Incorporated, a company specializing in U.S. military history, and has written several major reference books for McFarland. He lives in Glenside, Pennsylvania.
Bud Hannings oversees Seniram Publishing Incorporated, a company specializing in U.S. military history, and has written several major reference books for McFarland. He lives in Glenside, Pennsylvania.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Preface     
Introduction     

The Biographies     

Signers of the Declaration of Independence and Signers and Framers of the U.S. Constitution     
Bibliography     
Index     

Editorial Reviews

This biographical work contains profiles of military and political leaders who lived during the earliest years of America's founding. Each entry covers the individual's life as well as relevant family information. While the profiles of major figures such as George Washington and Thomas Jefferson fill several pages, the main value of this volume are the entries—mostly short paragraphs—on the lesser-known and obscure figures. Hannings (Chronology of the American Revolution) expresses great appreciation to reference librarians for help on the project, but he should also be commended for his persistence in trying to track down so many unknown individuals, including the wives and families of the subjects. BOTTOM LINE While this illustrated work provides much useful information, the entries do not list references. Researchers will also find the lengthy but unannotated bibliography only somewhat helpful for follow-up research. Recommended with reservations for large academic and public libraries wanting a comprehensive collection on these lesser-known early Americans.—Donald Altschiller, Boston Univ. Libs.

Library Journal

Gr 9 Up—In this excellent companion to his Chronology of the American Revolution (McFarland, 2008), Hannings delivers a monumental compilation of well-written and painstakingly researched biographies on the political and military leaders (particularly brigadier and major generals) who directed the colonies through the tumultuous years of the American Revolution and afterward. While venerated notables such as George Washington, John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson receive extensive coverage, the author also goes to great lengths to restore to posterity those lesser-known participants from the signer of the Declaration of Independence Thomas Lynch, Jr., to Brigadier General Enoch Poor, who died of a fever in September, 1780, while stationed in Hackensack, NJ. Each entry begins with a concise account of the subject's personal life (upbringing, school, marriage, etc.), and then moves into information about the Revolutionary period and concludes with a brief synopsis of the person's life after the war. Entries also include information on spouses and any available genealogical data. The biographies are presented in small-print columns with no breaks aside from the occasional inset illustrated portrait. A tremendous and timely resource for AP Revolutionary era projects and general study—Brian Odom, Pelham Public Library, AL

School Library Journal

a convenient and wide-ranging resource that would be a useful addition to the history reference collection of academic and large public libraries—Booklist;
“the main value of this volume are the entries on the lesser-known and obscure figures...should also be commended for his persistence in trying to track down so many unknown individuals...recommended”—Library Journal;
“excellent...a monumental compilation of well-written and painstakingly researched biographies...a tremendous and timely resource”—School Library Journal;
“informative...comprehensive and definitive...impressive...highly recommended”—The Midwest Book Review;
“an exceptional resume of historical reference works...superb...amazing detail...an insightful and entertaining look into the great leaders”—Leatherneck Magazine;
“a useful addition to other recent sources on the Revolution”—ARBA;
“thoroughly-researched”—Reference & Research Book News.

From the Publisher