David Wooster

David Wooster , 1711-77, American Revolutionary officer, b. Fairfield co., Conn. He served as an officer in the British army during the last of the French and Indian Wars . Wooster resigned his commission upon the outbreak of the American Revolution, was one of the promoters of the Ticonderoga expedition (1775), and was made brigadier general in the Continental army. He led Connecticut troops in the Quebec campaign. After the death of Richard Montgomery, Wooster was put in command (1776) of American forces at Quebec, but he was soon recalled by the Continental Congress because of his ineptitude. Wooster, commanding the Connecticut militia, was mortally wounded in battle near Danbury, Conn., against Tory raiders.

Wooster, David (1711–1777) colonial and Revolutionary War army officer. Born in Stratford, Connecticut, David Wooster graduated from Yale in 1738. He served as a captain of militia at the capture of Louisbourg in 1745, and afterwards was commissioned as a captain in a regiment of regulars. During the French and Indian War (1754–63) he commanded the 3rd Connecticut Regiment of militia, earning a promotion to brigadier general in 1763. He began the Revolutionary War as major general of Connecticut militia, and was soon appointed a brigadier general in the Continental army. He took part in Gen. Richard Montgomery's invasion of Canada, and succeeded to command of the force when Montgomery died in the failed assault on Quebec. He did not impress Congress with his performance, and was sent back to lead Connecticut militia in late 1776. When a large British raiding party attacked a Continental supply depot in Danbury in April the next year, Wooster assembled a small force of militiamen to harass the invaders as they returned to their ships. He was mortally wounded attacking the raiders, and died in Danbury.