Where Was the Headquarters of the British Army in America During the Late Colonial Period?

General Thomas Gage was the commander-in-chief of the British Army in America from 1763 to 1775, during the final decade of the colonial period. For most of that time, Gage made his headquarters in New York City, where the majority of his troops were stationed. Gage moved his headquarters to Boston in 1774 after being named military governor of Massachusetts in order to enforce the Boston Port Act which closed Boston Harbor to trade as punishment to the colony's rebellious residents.

In the early days of the Revolutionary War, Gen. George Washington made New York City the headquarters of the Continental Army. He correctly believed that the British would try to capture New York after being dislodged from Boston. The British, under Gen. William Howe, did capture the city by winning the Battle of Long Island on August 27, 1776. Following the battle, the British re-established New York City as their headquarters for the remainder of the Revolutionary War.