Samuel Miles

Samuel Miles (March 11, 1739 – December 29, 1805) was an American military officer and politician, as well as a wealthy and influential businessman, active in Pennsylvania before, during, and after the American Revolutionary War.

Born in Whitemarsh in what now is Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, Miles was one of seven children of James Miles (1705–1784) and Hannah Pugh (1715–1749).

He enlisted in the military in Bethlehem, PA, at the age of 16 (serving from October 1755 through February 1756) in Isaac Wayne's company that was part of the Pennsylvania militia during the French and Indian War. The company had been formed with the intent for "Col. Dr.” Benjamin Franklin to command. However, Franklin decided against filling that role and was succeeded by Col. William Clapham who participated in the construction of several forts in Pennsylvania during the war.

Miles became a lieutenant at age 19 and was put in charge of the small garrison in Shippensburg, a settlement that straddled Cumberland and Franklin counties. He was named a captain shortly before he turned 20. He was wounded in the Battle of Fort Ligonier in today's Westmoreland County. Shortly afterward, he was appointed commander of the garrison there. He was discharged, but then re-enlisted in Thomas Lloyd's company as a sergeant and was promoted to captain-lieutenant for the expedition to Fort Duquesne. He accepted a commission as captain in 1760 and commanded troops on Presque Isle (now Erie, Pennsylvania).

After the war, Miles went into business as a wine merchant and, on February 16, 1761, married Catherine Wister (1742–1797), the Rev.John Gano officiating. daughter of John Wister of Grumblethorpe, Philadelphia.

Miles was an early advocate for American independence from England and quickly entered politics and was elected to Pennsylvania's House of Assembly in 1772.

In the early days of the American Revolution, Miles raised a militia company. When the war began in earnest, he was made colonel of the Pennsylvania State Rifle Regiment, a state unit later adopted into the Continental Army. Before the Battle of Long Island on August 27, 1776, he received a letter from General George Washington seeking his assistance.

As a senior member of Washington's command staff, Miles took part in that battle that took place on the western end of Long Island in present-day Brooklyn. When the tide of battle turned against the Americans, Miles commanded a holding action that allowed Washington and the bulk of his outnumbered troops to escape. Miles was willingly captured by the British thinking he was George Washington , but was released as part of a prisoner exchange for captured British Lt. Col. Archibald Campbell in April 1778.