ANNALS 



OF 



PHILOSOPHY, 



APRIL, 1815. 



Article I. 



A Biographical Account of Sir Benjamin Thompson, Knt. Count 

 Rnmford. By Thomas Thomson, M.D. F.R.S. 



Sir benjamin Thompson was bom in the year 1752, in 

 the little town of Rumt'ord, in New England. His parents, who 

 were in middling circumstances, gave him the best education the 

 place could afford. He married, early in life, the school-master's 

 daughter of the place ; and I have been told, though I cannot 

 vouch for the accuracy of the information, that lie himself for some 

 time discharged the duties of school-master. This is by no means 

 inconsistent with the rank vvhicii he held, as Major of the Militia 

 of this district ; as in America the military officers did not constitute 

 a separate profession, but were selected out of the most respectable 

 inhabitants of the country, who still retained their old situations, 

 and continued their old pursuits. 



When the Ainei ican revolutionary war commenced, Mr. Thomp- 

 son embraced the side of the mother country, and was of consider- 

 able service, from his local knowledge of the country. He soon 

 came over to London, with proposals to raise a regiment in America 

 for the service of his Majesty; and such was his address and insi- 

 nuating manners, that he acquired tiie confidence and friendship of 

 JLrfjrd (ieorge (Jcrmaine, at that time at the head of the Colonial 

 Department, who gave liiu), it is said, a situation in his office. He 

 waa afterwards sent over to New York to raise the proposed regi- 

 ment, whieli he accomplished. In consequence of ibis, when the 

 peace was concluded in X^i^'i, he became entitled to half-pay. ^lo 

 ll^X he was knighted by his present Majesty. 



He had been eli^cted a Member of the Royal Society in the vfiar 



Vol. V. N« IV. Q, 



