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1993.PERCY, HUGH
Percy, Hugh
(August 28, 1742–July 10, 1817)
English General
T
he humane, altruistic Percy was the
only British officer to distinguish him-
self during the disastrous retreat from
Concord in 1775. In this and subsequent ac-
tions, he proved to be a capable combat offi-
cer, but mounting disillusionment finally
prompted his resignation.
Hugh Percy was born on August 28, 1742,
the son of Hugh Smithson Percy, the First
Earl of Northumberland. As a youth he exhib-
ited a sickly disposition, which carried over
into adulthood as a predisposition toward
gout, painful and disabling. Nonetheless,
Percy was attracted to a military career, so in
May 1759 he became an ensign in the 24th
Regiment of Foot. Using his family influence,
he managed to purchase a captaincy in the
85th Regiment four months later. By April
1762, he was serving as lieutenant colonel of
the 111th Regiment and, in this capacity, cam-
paigned with Prince Ferdinand of Brunswick
during the Seven Years’ War (1756–1763).
Percy fought well at the Battles of Bergen and
Minden, rising to lieutenant colonel of the
Grenadier Guards in 1762. Two years later he
gained an appointment as colonel and aide-
de-camp to King George III. In 1763, Percy
gained election to the House of Commons,
where his Whig beliefs placed him at odds
with the government, especially over hard-
line policies adopted toward the colonies. The
following year he married the daughter of
Lord Bute, the king’s personal tutor, and thus
enjoyed access to the innermost circles of
power. Like many well-situated aristocrats,
Percy did not hesitate to enhance his standing
through political connections. Hence, in No-
vember 1768 he became a colonel of the Fifth
Regiment of the Northumberland Fusiliers at
age 26 and was criticized for buying his way
into authority. In this instance, however, the
advancement was merited. Not only was
Percy a competent soldier; he was also one of
the first officers of his grade to abolish corpo-
ral punishment. Through humane treatment,
and by careful attention to the needs of his
men, he successfully bridged the vast, tradi-
tional social gulf between them. In May 1774,
Percy accompanied his unit to Boston as part
of the overall military buildup there. He re-
mained opposed to British imperial policy but
felt obliged to support his monarch if asked.
While at Boston, Gen. Thomas Gage,
British commander in chief, placed Percy in