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2000.KNYPHAUSEN, WILHELMVON
Knyphausen, Wilhelm von
(November 4, 1716–December 7, 1800)
Hessian General
T
he grim-faced Knyphausen was senior
commander of German auxiliaries
throughout most of the American Revo-
lution. He was one of few foreigners held in
high esteem by British military leaders, and
even the Americans lauded him for displays
of honesty and kindness. His calm detach-
ment in battle and polished courtesy in per-
sonal affairs made him a study in military pro-
fessionalism.
Wilhelm von Knyphausen was born in
Lutzburg, East Friesland, Hanover, on Novem-
ber 4, 1716, the son of an army officer who
had served under the Duke of Marlborough.
After studying at the Berlin Gymnasium, he
entered the Prussian service in 1734 and rose
steadily through the ranks. By the advent of
the Seven Years’ War (1756–1763), Knyphau-
sen was a major of grenadiers and closely en-
gaged in a number of severe actions. His final
wartime rank was lieutenant colonel, at
which time he appears to have passed back
into the service of his monarch, Prince
Friedrich II of Hesse-Kassel. Knyphausen by
this time had acquired a reputation as a taci-
turn, humorless individual who almost always
projected a grave demeanor. Yet he was as
brave as a lion in combat, strict but fair with
his men, and kindly disposed toward captives
and civilians. One of his long-standing eccen-
tricities was buttering bread with his thumb, a
common practice given the lack of silverware
in the field. Following commencement of the
American Revolution in April 1775, the gov-
ernment of Great Britain hired large numbers
of German auxiliaries to augment their own
standing forces. Knyphausen at this time held
the rank of lieutenant general in the mar-
grave’s army, so the following spring he was
selected to lead the second division of 4,000
Hessian troops to North America.
The 60-year-old Knyphausen was trans-
ported by the Royal Navy to New York and ar-
rived on October 18, 1776. There he joined the
First Hessian Division under Gen. Leopold von
Heister, with a combined strength of 8,500