Phineas Lyman

Phineas Lyman (1716-74) was an American soldier, born at Durham, Connecticut. He graduated at Yale in 1738, was a tutor there until 1741, studied law and began practice at Suffield (which was then within the boundaries of Massachusetts). In 1749 he advocated the annexation of Suffield from Massachusetts. From 1749 to 1755 he was a member of the upper chamber of the Connecticut Legislature. In March, 1755 he was appointed a major general and was made commander in chief of the Connecticut militia force of 1000 men, which participated in the unsuccessful expedition against Crown Point. At the battle of Lake George (September 8, 1755), after Gen. Sir William Johnson suffered a slight wound, Lyman took command of the forces and repulsed the attack of the French and Indians. He was for a time in 1757 in command of Fort Edward, and in 1758 commanded the Connecticut forces in the expedition of General Abercrombie which resulted in the disastrous repulse at Ticonderoga. The following year he was with Lord Amherst at the capture of Crown Point and Ticonderoga and in 1760 took part in the expeditions to Oswego and Montreal. In 1762 he commanded the colonial contingent of Lord Albemarle's army in the capture of Havana. In 1763, he went to England where he remained until 1772, endeavoring to obtain a grant of land in west Florida, a tract near Natchez (now Mississippi) being granted by royal charter in 1772. Lyman led a band of settlers to the region in 1773.