Sir Thomas Gage (1719–April 2, 1787) was a British general and commander in chief of the North American forces from 1763 to 1778 during the early days of the American Revolution.

Gage was born in Sussex, the second son of the first Viscount Gage. He entered the army in 1741 and saw service in Flanders and in the campaign of Culloden, becoming lieutenant-colonel in the 44th foot in March 1751. In 1754 he served in America, and he took part in the following year in General Braddock's disastrous expedition. In 1758, he married Margaret Kemble of New Jersey. Also in 1758, he became colonel of a new regiment, and served in Amherst's operations against Montreal. He was made governor of Montreal, and promoted major-general in 1761, and in 1763 succeeded Amherst in the command of the British forces in America; in 1770 he was made a lieutenant general. In 1774 he was appointed martial law governor of Massachusetts, replacing the civilian governor Thomas Hutchinson. In that capacity he was entrusted with carrying into effect the Boston Port Act. General Gage was consumed with the confiscation of war making materials. In September of 1774 he carried out a mission to seize the gun powder of Somerville, MA. Gage sucessfully accomplished this mission but was not sucessful in other raids. This was in large part due to Paul Revere and the Sons of Liberty. The Sons of Liberty kept careful watch over Gage's activities after this point and sucessfully warned future victims before Gage could mobilize his troops. The difficulties which surrounded him in the execution of his office at this time of the gravest unrest culminated in 1775, and the action of the 19th of April at Lexington initiated the American War of Independence. After the battle of Bunker Hill, Gage was superseded by General Howe, and returned to England. He was promoted to full general in 1782, and died on the 2nd of April 1787.

Source: Fischer, David Hackett (1995), Paul Revere's Ride, Oxford University Press ISBN:0195098315