- Robert Sedgwick
Major General Robert Sedgwick (c. 1611 - 1656) was an English colonist, born 1611 inWoburn, Bedfordshire ,England , and baptised onMay 6 ,1613 . [Records ofSaint Mary's Church , Woburn, Bedfordshire, England]Biography
He settled at Charlestown,
Massachusetts , in 1635, where he became a successful merchant and for many years represented the town in the General Court.He was active in organizing the
Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company , of which he became captain in 1640. In 1652 he was appointed commander of all the Massachusetts militia. He built the first fort at Boston, and Cromwell promoted him to major general, making him the first Major General of theMassachusetts Bay Colony . With John Winthrop, Jr., and others he established in 1643-1644 the firstironworks in theNorth America .Under authority from
Oliver Cromwell , he drove the French from the Penobscot region andFort Pentagouet in 1654 and in 1655 accompanied the expedition which capturedJamaica . Just before his death there, Cromwell gave him sole command as the first Governor General ofJamaica . He died onMay 24 1656 and was buried half way up the canyon toSpanish Town fromOcho Rios in a smallSir Christopher Wren styled chapel. [ [http://www.sedgwick.org/na/families/robert1613/sedgwick-robert1613.html SEDGWICK.ORG - Major General Robert Sedgwick (1613 - 1656) ] ]He was the twice eighth great-grandfather of
Edie Sedgwick and the twice ninth great-grandfather ofKyra Sedgwick .References
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External links
* [http://www.biographi.ca/009004-119.01-e.php?&id_nbr=264 Biography at the "Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online"]
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