Benjamin Ruggles Woodbridge
A Revolutionary War colonel and Massachusetts polymath who commanded troops at Bunker Hill and built a vast personal empire.
1739–1819 (age 80)·18th and 19th-century American military officer and politician·Birthday: March 5
Biography
Benjamin Ruggles Woodbridge was a figure of formidable energy in colonial and early America, a man who seemed to master every pursuit he touched. Trained as both a physician and a lawyer, he settled in South Hadley, Massachusetts, where his ambitions sprawled as widely as his landholdings. When revolution broke out, he was a natural choice to lead, commanding a regiment of Massachusetts militia at the pivotal Battle of Bunker Hill. After the war, Woodbridge channeled his drive into business, operating a rum still, a mill, and vast tracts of farmland, becoming the wealthiest man in his region. He also served for years in the Massachusetts legislature, helping to shape the new state. His life paints a portrait of the revolutionary generation's essence: martial duty, entrepreneurial vigor, and civic duty woven tightly together.
#1 When Benjamin Was Born
The biggest hits of 1739
Benjamin's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1739Born
1744Started school
1752Became a teenager
1755Could drive
1757Could vote
1760Turned 21
1769Turned 30
1779Turned 40
1789Turned 50
1799Turned 60
1809Turned 70
1819Turned 80
Key Achievements
- Commanded a Massachusetts militia regiment at the Battle of Bunker Hill in 1775.
- Served multiple terms as a representative in the Massachusetts state legislature.
- Amassed a diverse business portfolio including a rum distillery, lumber, and grist mills, becoming South Hadley's wealthiest citizen.
Did You Know?
He was a graduate of Harvard College, class of 1758.
In addition to his military and political roles, he was also a practicing medical doctor.
The town of Woodbridge, Massachusetts, is named in his honor.
His son, also named Benjamin Ruggles Woodbridge, served as a U.S. Representative from Massachusetts.
“A man's duty is to his land and his liberty.”
