22 Sketch of the Early History of Count Rumford. 
birth, and the circumstances attending his departure from this coun- 
try for Europe at the commencement of the American revolution. 
Cuvier, in the paper referred to, says, * Benjamin Thompson, 
more commonly known by his German title of Count Rumford, was 
born in 1753, in the English colonies of North America, at a place 
then called Rumford, and at present Concord, in the state of New 
Hampshire.” Again he says, “in the night of the 18th of April, 
1775, the royal troops marched from Bion and after having fought 
a first battle at Lexington, proceeded towards Concord ; but, being 
presently assailed by a furious multitude, were obliged to betake 
themselves to their garrison. Mrs. Thompson’s family was attached 
to the government by several important offices. Her husband, 
young as he was, had himself received from it some marks of con- 
fidence. His personal opinions, besides, led him to support the 
government. Thus it was natural that he should j join the ministerial 
party with all the fervor of his age, and freely participate in its 
chances. He therefore returned to Boston with the army, and in 
such haste, that he was obliged to leave his wife at Concord. Hav- 
ing afterwards to move from place to place he never saw her again, 
nor was it until after a period of twenty years, that he met [in Eu- 
rope] the daughter to whom she gave birth a few days after his de- 
parture.”* 
It is not at all surprising that Cuvier, who never was on this side 
of the Atlantic, should confound Concord, Massachusetts, with Con- 
cord, New Hampshire ; but it will perhaps be a little difficult to im- 
agine how he could mistake, as we shall presently see he did, on 
other points, concerning which he seems to express himself with 
such perfect confidence. 
In the Edinburgh Encyclopedia likewise, we are told his birth- 
place was at Concord, New Hampshire; but in Rees’ Cyclopedia 
it is said, ‘‘ he was born at the village of Rumford in New England, 
in the year 1752.” 
The Encyclopedia Americana, correctly as to place, but errone- 
ously as to time, says, he was born at Woburn, Mass. -» In the year 
1752. 
In a short biographical notice of Count Rumford in the Philoso- 
phical Magazine, for 1801, his birth- -place is said to have been Rum- 
ford, Mass.t 
* American Journal of Science, &c. Vol. XIX, p. 28. 
+ Philosophical Magazine, Vol. IX, p. 135. 
