Hull, William (1753-1825), was an American Army officer who served in the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812. During the Revolutionary War (1775-1783), Hull fought bravely in many battles, including Princeton, Stony Point, and Trenton. During the War of 1812, he surrendered Detroit to the British, an action for which he was court-martialed.
In 1812, President James Madison ordered Hull to capture Upper Canada (the southern part of present-day Ontario), which was British territory. However, the mission failed, and Hull’s troops retreated to Detroit. The British army followed Hull, surrounded Detroit, and demanded surrender. Hull requested help from Fort Dearborn in the Illinois Territory, but Indians had captured or killed all the soldiers at the fort. Surrounded by the British and threatened by an Indian attack, Hull surrendered.
In 1814, a court-martial convicted Hull of cowardice and neglect of duty and sentenced him to death. However, President Madison canceled the sentence. Hull was born on June 24, 1753, in Derby, Connecticut. He died on Nov. 29, 1825.
