What’s In a Name?

Posted on November 20, 2025

What’s In a Name?

Mr., Esquire, Colonel, General, Secretary… Henry Knox was known by many titles over his life, but what he was called during his monumental expedition to Ticonderoga can be a bit confusing. That is because how Knox was addressed was changing as his journey to and from Ticonderoga was underway.

Prior to November of 1775, Henry Knox was just that, Henry Knox, private citizen. But Knox’s role, and how he was referred to, evolved over even just that fall. Volunteering to serve as an engineer with the Continental Army, Knox drew the attention of army officials and politicians for his skills. Throughout the summer and fall he was called simply “Mr. Henry Knox,” or occasionally “Henry Knox Esqr,” short for “Esquire,” a title which generally implied the status of a gentleman, elevating Knox from his humble origins. Washington once referred to him as “Mr Knox a Gentleman of Worcester” again elevating his status based on his demonstrated capabilities, if not his birth or formal education. (1)

In October, delegates from Congress along with officials from Massachusetts and Connecticut and General Washington, proposed giving Knox the rank of Lieutenant Colonel of Engineers to secure the young man’s talents. Knox, however, refused to accept that rank and felt his merits entitled him to a commission as a full Colonel of the artillery. At that time there was dissatisfaction with the Continental Artillery Regiment’s Colonel, Richard Gridley, who was also commissioned as a Colonel of engineers, and Knox lobbied for the assignment. (2)

In the meantime, Washington selected Knox for the mission to Ticonderoga, addressing his orders still to the civilian volunteer, styled as “Henry Knox Esq” and as a civilian Knox departed Cambridge on his historic assignment (3). Before that though, Washington had written to congress urging them to appoint him as the full Colonel of the Artillery Regiment.(4) Congress took that matter up, and on November 17 the Second Continental Congress unanimously agreed with Washington’s recommendation and commissioned Knox as a full Colonel, in command of the Artillery.(5)

Neither Knox nor Washington knew of this appointment as he set out. Knox was on the road to Worcester to see his wife Lucy, then bound for New York City when Congress made his official appointment. Washington’s concurrent instructions to General Philip Schuyler to Assist Knox written on November 16, still referred to him as “Mr Henry Knox, an experienced Engineer”(6)

Washington was still urging John Hancock to appoint Knox Colonel as late as November 28 and Knox’s commission as Colonel did not arrive in Washington’s hands until December 14. Before that however Continental Officers must have known of his appointment as Horatio Gates was already addressing letters to Knox as “Colonel” by November 30. (Fig.1) Washington made the appointment official in General orders on December 12, two days before he actually received Knox’s commission from Congress.(7) By December 8, General Philip Schuyler was also referring in his letters to “Colo Knox” as did the garrison commander at Ticonderoga.(8)

While the army’s staff honored his elevation, Knox himself still simply signed his correspondence “Henry Knox” (Fig.2) during the expedition until his return to Massachusetts in January to find his commission, and lasting fame, waiting for him.

1. “I. Questions for the Committee, 18 October 1775,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-02-02-0175-0002.; “Minutes of the Conference between a Committee of Congress, Washington, and Representatives of the New England Colonies, 18[–24] October 1775,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Franklin/01-22-02-0142.; “George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 2 November 1775,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-02-02-0266.
2. “Henry Knox to John Adams, 26 October 1775,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Adams/06-03-02-0133.
3. George Washington Papers, Series 4, General Correspondence: George Washington to Henry Knox, Instructions. 1775. Manuscript/Mixed Material. https://www.loc.gov/item/mgw444175/.
4. “George Washington to John Hancock, 8 November 1775,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-02-02-0304.
5. Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789, Vol 3 (Washington: Government Printing Office, 1905), 359.
6. “George Washington to Major General Philip Schuyler, 16 November 1775,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-02-02-0355.
7. “George Washington to John Hancock, 28 November 1775,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-02-02-0404. “John Hancock to George Washington, 2 December 1775,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-02-02-0426.; “George Washington to John Hancock, 14 December 1775,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-02-02-0503.; “General Orders, 12 December 1775,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-02-02-0493.
8. “Major General Philip Schuyler to George Washington, 8 December 1775,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-02-02-0469. James Holmes to Job Mulford, December 8, 1775, Philip Schuyler Papers, New York Public Library.

Fig. 1. Horatio Gates’ November 30, 1775 letter to Knox is clearly addressed to his new rank as “Colonel” only official the day after he was issued his orders. Fort Ticonderoga Museum Collection, https://fortticonderoga.catalogaccess.com/archives/29397

Fig. 2. Knox’s own letters still show the private citizen, as this letter to General Schuyler on December 17, 1775. Fort Ticonderoga Museum Collection, https://fortticonderoga.catalogaccess.com/archives/29974