John Philip De Haas

John Philip de Haas Sr. (c.1735 - June 3, 1786 ) served in the British Army and was a brigadier general and major general for the Continental Army. He played a role in the rescuing of Benedict Arnold as well as served in and provided leadership for the Provincial Battalion of Pennsylvania.

Born in Holland in 1735, Haas moved to Lancaster, Pennsylvania in 1737. In December 1757 Haas became an ensign for the Provincial Battalion of Pennsylvania. He ended up serving in the Seven Years' War, Pontiac's War, and the American Revolutionary War.

In 1775, despite serving the British Army for most of his military career, he decided to start a militia and fight against the British. Haas became a colonel for the First Pennsylvania Battalion in 1775 and built the base for the Second Pennsylvanian Continentals in 1776. In 1777 he obtained the role of Brigadier General. Haas retired in 1783 to his home in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where he eventually died in 1786.

Early Childhood
John Philip de Haas Jr. was born c.1735 in Holland. He was the only child of Maria Landt and John Nicholas de Haas. In 1737, he and his parents moved to America and found a home in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

Early Military Career
In 1757 Haas was an ensign for the Provincial Battalion of Pennsylvania and was stationed at Fort Augusta which was along the Susquehanna River. His career started with no real action but he ended up serving in the Seven Years' War. After his promotion to adjutant in 1758 he accompanied General John Forbes in his expedition to Fort Duquesne in 1760, fought in the Battle of Bushy Run, got promoted to captain and was stationed to a different camp.

Inter Years
After serving in the Seven Years' War and Pontiac's War he managed to have 6 kids, Johann Ludwig de Haas, Charlotta Catharina de Haas, Henrietta de Haas, John Philip de Haas Jr., Jacob de Haas, and Eleonora de Haas, with his spouse, Eleanor Bingham.

Revolutionary War
In 1774 he was chairman of a committee which collected any contribution they could for the suffering of the Port of Boston. In 1775 Haas raised his own militia. In fall of 1775 he was elected to be colonel of the First Pennsylvania Battalion but he resigned in 1776. Despite his resignation he ended up rejoining, becoming a colonel again, and marching to Quebec. Afterwards he ended up serving at Ticonderoga and Fort George. In 1777 Haas became a brigadier general but Haas waited a while to acknowledge his promotion that General George Washington ended up writing to him, asking if he was still in the army. It seems that he was not as he didn't appear in the military records from 1777 until his retirement in 1783 besides a record of him being promoted to major general. He most likely didn't appear because he could have been on unofficial retirement as he couldn't find a brigade to command.

Death
After Haas retired he ended up enjoying his last years in a home in Philadelphia until he died on June 3, 1786