James Mitchell Varnum, born in Dracut, Massachusetts, in 1748,
graduated with a high reputation for scholarship in 1769, at the age of
twenty, from Rhode Island College, now Brown University. He adopted the
law as his profession, was admitted to the Bar, and rapidly acquired
an extensive and lucrative practice. Reading the signs of the times
aright, and feeling that soon there must be an appeal to arms, he
joined the “Kentish Guards,” and in 1774 was made commander. Soon
after the battle of Lexington, he entered the Continental service as
colonel; and on the 21st of February, 1777, he was promoted to the
rank of brigadier-general. With undoubted military ability, he enjoyed
few opportunities of distinguishing himself, though assigned several
important commands. He passed the winter of 1777–78 with Washington at
Valley Forge, and in the spring proposed the raising of a battalion of
negroes in Rhode Island; the State Legislature acceded, and passed an
act giving absolute freedom to every slave who should enter the service
and pass muster.
On the 5th of March, 1779, Varnum resigned his commission, there being
a greater number of general officers than was required for the army;
but soon after, he was elected major-general of the militia of his
native State, retaining that position until his death. He was twice
elected to Congress, and in 1788 removed to Marietta, Ohio, having
been appointed one of the judges of the Supreme Court of the Northwest
Territory. He was a member of the Society of the Cincinnati. Death put
an end to his brief but brilliant career on the 10th of January, 1789.