Henry Knox: Washington's Artilleryman

In April 1775, when a young Boston bookseller with no wartime experience offered his services to the newly formed American rebel army, few people could have foreseen the vital role he would play in the fight for independence. But Henry Knox's ambitious plan to move cannons from Fort Ticonderoga to Boston eventually forced the British to abandon the city, a significant American victory. After that success, Knox was placed in charge of the Continental Army's artillery, and his guns helped the Americans win victories at Trenton, Monmouth, and numerous other battles during the conflict. Knox was a trusted friend and adviser of George Washington, and he continued to serve his country after the Revolution ended, taking an important government position as Washington's secretary of war.