PIGOT, ROBERT
Pigot, Robert
(1720–August 2, 1796)
English General
P
igot was a soldier celebrated for his
bravery and frequently lampooned for
his short stature. At Bunker Hill and
Newport he handled his men aggressively and
with great skill.
Robert Pigot (or Pigott) was born in 1720
at Patshull, Staffordshire, and elected to pur-
sue a military profession. He first saw combat
at Fontenoy in 1745 as a lieutenant in the 31st
Regiment of Foot before completing several
tours at Minorca and Scotland, rising to cap-
tain in 1751. Seven years later his battalion
was amalgamated into the 70th Regiment, and
he was appointed major. By 1764, Pigot had
transferred to the 38th Regiment as its lieu-
tenant colonel and performed several years of
garrison duty in Ireland and southern En-
gland. Following a long deployment in the
West Indies, he next accompanied his men to
Boston in 1774 as part of the buildup of
British forces there under Gen. Thomas
Gage. Flank companies of the 38th Regiment
were present during the disastrous Battles of
Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775, al-
though Pigot remained behind in Boston with
the remaining center companies. However, he
did march at least part of his men to
Charlestown in support of Gen. Hugh Percy’s
beleaguered forces. Gage was eventually re-
placed by Gen. William Howe, who jokingly
referred to Pigot as “the little man.” This was
certainly no reflection on his abilities as a sol-
dier, for during the June 17 Battle of Bunker
Hill Howe appointed him second in command
with the local rank of brigadier general.
The British and colonials had been at log-
gerheads for several weeks following Lexing-
ton and Concord until, on the night of June
16, rebel forces seized and fortified the
heights overlooking Boston Harbor. This
proved a catalyst that prompted the usually
hesitant Gage to resort to armed force, for if
cannons were posted on the heights, his sup-
ply lines to the sea would be cut. Accordingly,
Howe was directed to storm the rebel fortifi-
cations at Bunker Hill in a show of British
might. Howe initially directed Pigot, who
commanded his own 38th, the 43rd, and, 47th
Regiments, assisted by a battalion of marines,
to make demonstrations on the American
right to fix it in place while he struck their left
flank. However, Howe’s first assault was deci-
sively blasted back by the entrenched defend-
ers, who also forced Pigot’s men to withdraw
beyond musket range. Howe next directed
Pigot to assist him in attacking the main
American redoubt atop the hill. This endeavor
was also repulsed with grievous losses. Fi-
nally, Howe ordered his soldiers to drop their
knapsacks and prepare for a final maximum
effort, assisted by Pigot on the left and the re-
serves under Gen. Henry Clinton. The
columns sustained heavy losses during their
approach (the militia withheld its fire until the
British were only 10 yards away), then
stormed the redoubt when the American am-
munition failed. Pigot was among the first
British officers over the parapet and helped
clear the fortification at bayonet point. Howe
finally prevailed, but at a staggering cost:
nearly half his army was killed or wounded.
Pigot’s conduct, fortunately, was marked by
conspicuous bravery throughout the entire
ordeal, and on December 11, 1775, he was
promoted to colonel of the 38th Regiment by
order of King George III. It was certainly an
apt tribute to the veteran Pigot, who at 55
years old was among the most senior British
officers present.
Howe subsequently evacuated Boston in
March 1776, and Pigot sailed with his men to
Halifax. There he took command of a brigade
consisting of the Fifth, 28th, 35th, and 49th
Regiments and accompanied the expedition
against Long Island, New York. He fought
conspicuously in the August 1776 Battle of