Jul 22

Jul 22 Outranked by a Subordinate - James Warren Resigns

Updated 7/21/21

James Warren was President of the Massachusetts Provincial Congress for five years.

Warren also served as the first Paymaster of the Continental Army and a Major General in the militia.

James Warren

James Warren is best known as the husband of Mercy Otis Warren, one of the most important authors of the American Revolution.

However, James played a significant role in the American Revolution himself..

Already a member of the Massachusetts colonial assembly, Warren worked closely with his brother in law, James Otis as well as friends Samuel Adams, John Adams, and Joseph Hawley during the buildup of hostilities with the Mother Country.

President of Massachusetts

James served as a Colonel in the Massachusetts Militia during the Battle of Bunker Hill.

When his distant cousin, Joseph Warren, was killed in that engagement, James replaced him as President of the Provincial Congress. He would lead this body for five years until his State ratified its first Constitution.

During this time, Warren was chosen by the Continental Congress to serve as the first Paymaster General of the Continental Army. He would resign a year later when the soldiers were moved to New York, as he believed his efforts were needed back home.

Major General

Warren was soon selected to work as a Major General in the State Militia.

Unfortunately, he became disheartened that he was outranked by any officer in the Continental Army.

In August of 1777, he resigned his position, writing a lengthy letter to John Adams complaining that he was expected to follow the orders of a Sergeant despite holding a rank significantly higher within his State.

This is interesting because a similar complaint was filed by Colonial Officers during the French and Indian War against their British counterparts.

Anti-Federalist

Warren stuck to State politics for the remainder of his career.

When the process of ratifying the United States Constitution was underway both James and Mercy Otis Warren became outspoken Anti-Federalists.

This did not win them any favors in the heavily Federalist Massachusetts, but his experience with the Continental Army during the war had left him believing his State should be the supreme authority over its inhabitants.

Want to read about other Anti-Federalists?

Check out these articles:

Timothy Bloodworth and his Futile Fight Against the Constitution

Melancton Smith Hates on the Constitution

The Battle of Bunker Hill was an important early fight int he War of Independence.

‘A City, A Siege, A Revolution’ is one of the best books on this event to be written in the past two decades.

If you’d like a copy you can get one through the Amazon affiliate link below (you’ll support this site, but don’t worry, Amazon pays me while your price stays the same).