William Montgomery (Pennsylvania soldier)

Major General William Montgomery Honorable
Pennsylvania Assembly portrait, 1780
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania's 6th and at-large congressional district
In office March 4, 1793 – March 3, 1795
Preceded by	Redistricted
Succeeded by	Samuel Maclay
Member of the Pennsylvania Senate
In office February 1791 – January 20, 1794
Preceded by	Office established
Succeeded by	William Hepburn
Constituency	Huntingdon, Luzerne, Northumberland
Chair of the Appropriations Committee
In office 1791–1793
Chief Judge, Court of Common Pleas and Quarter Sessions
In office May 4, 1785 – November 22, 1790
Preceded by	Unknown
Succeeded by	Unknown
Constituency	Northumberland, Luzerne
Delegate to the Continental Congress from Pennsylvania
In office 1785–resigned
Preceded by	Unknown
Succeeded by	Charles Pettit
Constituency	Confederation Congress
Censor on the Council of Censors
In office 1783–1790
Preceded by	Office established
Succeeded by	Office abolished
Constituency	Northumberland County
Member of the Pennsylvania Assembly
In office February 1780 – November 1783
Preceded by	James McKnight
Succeeded by	James McClenaghan
Constituency	Northumberland County
Chair of the Armed Services Committee
In office 1780–1783
Delegate to the Pennsylvania Provincial Convention
In office July 15, 1776 – resigned
Succeeded by	LTC Thomas Strawbridge
Constituency	Chester County
Delegate to the Pennsylvania Provincial Conference
In office June 18, 1776 – June 25, 1776
Constituency	Chester County
Chair of Military Personnel Committee
In office June 18, 1776 – June 25, 1776
Delegate to the Convention for the Province of Pennsylvania
In office January 23, 1775 – January 28, 1775
Constituency	Chester County
Delegate to the Committee of Inspection
In office December 20, 1774 – 1775
Constituency	Chester County
Personal details
Born	(1736-08-03)August 3, 1736 Mill Creek, Delaware Colony, British America
Died	May 1, 1816(1816-05-01) (aged 79) Danville, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Political party	Patriot Constitutionalist Democratic-Republican Anti-Federalist Anti-Administration
Spouse(s)	Margaret Nevin ​ ​ (m. 1756; died 1770)​ Isabella Evans (m. 1772) Hannah Boyd (m. 1793)
Children	10, including Daniel
Relatives	Montgomery Clan Richard Montgomery Montgomery Case J. Montgomery Rice C. Montgomery Marriott
Residence	General Montgomery House
Education	Faggs Classical School
Alma mater	William & Mary (dropout)
Signature
Website	United States Congress
Military service
Allegiance	Great Britain United Colonies United States
Branch/service	Associators Continental Army Pennsylvania Militia
Years of service	1757-75 (Associators) 1776-77 (Continental Army) 1793-1807 (Pennsylvania Militia)
Rank	Colonel (Associators) Colonel (Continental Army) Major General (Pennsylvania Militia)
Commands	4th Elk Battalion, Associators 1st PA Regiment Flying Camp, Continental Army 7th Division, Pennsylvania Militia 9th Division, Pennsylvania Militia
Battles/wars	American Revolutionary War New York and New Jersey Campaign Battle of Long Island Battle of Fort Washington Battle of Fort Lee Ten Crucial Days

William Montgomery (August 3, 1736 – May 1, 1816) was a colonial-American patriot, pioneer, soldier, public servant, and abolitionist.

As a revolutionary patriot, he helped the Province of Pennsylvania declare independence from the British Empire, establish the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,^[1] and save the American Revolution during the Ten Crucial Days.^[2] As a soldier, he served a total of 34 years, including 14 years as major general and division commander. As a public servant, he was elected or appointed to 16 different offices, including the Continental Congress, Pennsylvania Congress, and United States Congress, and co-authorized the creation of the United States Navy's first six frigates. As an abolitionist, he helped pass: a resolution to prohibit the future import of slaves into the Province of Pennsylvania in 1775, An Act for the Gradual Abolition of Slavery (the first law adopted by a democracy to end slavery in world history) in 1780, and the Slave Trade Act in 1794. He was one of seven congressmen who voted against the Fugitive Slave Act in 1793.^{[2][3][4][5][6]} As a pioneer he founded "Montgomery's Landing", later named Danville, Pennsylvania after his son, Daniel Montgomery.^[7]