William Heath was born March 2, 1737 in
Roxbury, Massachusetts and was raised as a farmer. In
1765 he joined the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company
of Boston where he became commander in 1770. In December
1774 he was commissioned a provincial Brig-general, was
promoted to major-general on June 20, 1775 and two days
later was commissioned fourth brig-general in the Continental
Army. He became major-general on August 9, 1776.
After the war he retired to his farm in
Roxbury. He was a state senator from 1791 to 1793 and
in 1806 was elected lieutenant-governor of Massachusetts
but declined to serve.
Heath, the last of the major generals of
the Revolutionary War, died at the age of 77 on January
24, 1814 in Roxbury, Massachusetts.
NOTE: Death notice for Heath was published in The Troy
Post on February 1, 1814.