LINCOLN, BENJAMIN

(1733-1810), American military commander; b. Hingham, Ma . He was a farmer until the age of forty, but was very public spirited and active in the political affairs of the Ma achusetts colony, holding a number of administrative offices and serving in the colonial legislature and later in the provincial congre es. He was made a major general in 1776, and rendered conspicuous services at the siege of Boston, the battle of Bemis’ Heights and in co-operation with the French forces, in the attack upon Savannah, Ga. He stubbornly defended Charleston, S. C., against the siege by the British under Clinton, but was finally forced to capitulate to superior forces. He took part with distinction in the siege of York town, and was designated by Washington to receive the sword of Cornwall is. He was Secretary of War '(1781-83) was lieutenant-governor of Ma achusetts in 1787, and in that same year commanded the forces that crushed Shay’s Rebellion. In 1789 he was a member of the commi ion that negotiated a treaty with the Creek Indians. His later years were spent in literary and scientific pursuits. “LINCOLN COLLEGE, one of the group of colleges composing Oxford University, England. It was founded in 1427 by Richard Flemyng, bishop of Lincoln, who at first was inclined towards the doctrines of Wyclif but later repudiated them. * Subsequent bishops of Lincoln have made the college their special care. John Wesley, the founder of Methodism was one of the graduates of Lincoln College. The institution has a fine modern library building, though most of the structures are of great antiquity.