William Howe

William Howe became the commander of the British Army in America in September 1775. Boston was under siege at the time, and the American Revolutionary War had barely started. To confine the uprising to New England, Howe intended to set up bases in New York and Newport, Rhode Island. Thus, on March 17, 1776, the British army withdrew from Boston. A British force led by Howe made landfall on Long Island's south shores on August 22. The British then had a string of triumphs, forcing the Continental Army to abandon New York and retreat across New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

Then William Howe began a campaign toward Philadelphia, then the American capital. On September 11, 1777, he beat the Americans at the Battle of Brandywine. Philadelphia was exposed as a result. Two weeks later, on September 26, Howe took control of the American capital. But his capture of Philadelphia played a part in General John Burgoyne's Saratoga campaign's demise. Burgoyne had to hand over his entire force on October 17, making the Battles of Saratoga disastrous for the British. However, the most significant aspect of the triumph was that it gave France hope that America might win the war, which led to the official formation of the Franco-American alliance. Howe's recognition was filed in October 1777 and approved in April 1778.