Conway, Thomas

Conway, Thomas, 1735–1800?, general in the Continental army in the American Revolution, b. Ireland. Educated in France, he was an officer in the French army before coming (1777) to America. He fought valiantly as a leader of colonial forces at Germantown, but George Washington attempted to block his promotion from brigadier to major general as unfair to officers with longer service. Congress nevertheless appointed him major general (Dec., 1777) and made him inspector general of the army. His part in the intrigue known as the Conway Cabal was small, but he lost his command, resigned (1778), and returned to France.

The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2007, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.

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