Artemas WARD, Congress, MA (1727-1800)

WARD, Artemas, (father of Artemas Ward, Jr.), a Delegate and a Representative from Massachusetts; born in Shrewsbury, Mass., November 26, 1727; attended the common schools and was prepared for college by a private tutor; was graduated from Harvard College in 1748; justice of the peace in 1752; a representative in the general assembly many terms and served in the executive council; lieutenant colonel in the provincial army during the French and Indian War; appointed brigadier general by the provincial congress of Massachusetts on October 27, 1774, and was made commander in chief of the Massachusetts forces on May 19, 1775; appointed by the Continental Congress as major general on June 17, 1775; chief justice of the court of common pleas of Worcester County in 1776 and 1777; president of the Massachusetts Executive Council 1777-1779; member of the State house of representatives 1779-1785, serving as speaker in 1785; Member of the Continental Congress 1780-1781; elected to the Second and Third Congresses (March 4, 1791-March 3, 1795); died in Shrewsbury, Mass., October 28, 1800; interment in Mountain View Cemetery.

Bibliography

Martyn, Charles. The Life of Artemas Ward, The First Commander-in-Chief of the American Revolution. 1921. Reprint, Port Washington, N.Y.: Kennikat, 1970.

Source: Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1771-Present