Montgomery, Richard (1738–75), soldier, was born 2 December 1738 at Feltrim, near Swords, Co. Dublin, third son of three sons and one daughter of Thomas Montgomery (c. 1700–1761), MP for Lifford, Co. Donegal (1729–60), and Mary Montgomery (née Franklin). His elder brother was Capt. Alexander Montgomery (qv), MP for Co. Donegal (1768–1800). Richard was educated at St Andrew's school before entering TCD on 15 June 1754. In 1756 he left TCD without a degree and was commissioned (21 September) as an ensign in the 17th Foot. He served in North America during the Seven Years War and was present at the siege of Louisbourg (July 1758) under Gen. Wolfe, was promoted to lieutenant (10 July 1759), and took part in the attack on the French forts on Lake Champlain (1759). In 1760 he was appointed adjutant of his regiment and was present at the capture of Montreal. He later served in the campaign to capture Martinique (1762), took part in the siege of Havana, Cuba, and was promoted to captain (May 1762). At the end of the war he was stationed in New York, returning to England in 1765. During his time in England he moved in political circles and was acquainted with prominent whigs such as Isaac Barré (qv), Charles James Fox, and Edmund Burke (qv).
Frustrated at not being promoted to major, he sold his commission in April 1772 and moved to New York some months later. Planning to live as a gentleman farmer, he bought a farm near King's Bridge, thirteen miles north of New York city. In July 1773 he married Janet Livingston, whom he had met eight years before, the daughter of Judge Robert R. Livingston, and spent the first few years of his marriage at his wife's residence near Rhinebeck, New York. They had no children. The Livingston family held strong pro-colonial views and Montgomery came to support the American cause, being elected in May 1775 to represent Dutchess County in the New York provincial congress. Owing to his previous military experience he was appointed a brigadier-general in the American continental army on 22 June 1775, an appointment he accepted with some reluctance. Acting as second-in-command to Gen. Philip Schuyler, he served during the invasion of Canada and was present during the siege operations against St John's and Chambly on the Richelieu river.
In September 1775 Schuyler resigned his command due to illness and Montgomery took command of the army, capturing St John's and Chambly on 19 October. These were the first successes for the American army during the revolutionary war, and on 11 November he seized Montreal after its evacuation by the British. On 2 December he rendezvoused with Gen. Benedict Arnold, and the combined army laid siege to Quebec. On the morning of 31 December 1775 the two generals led their men in an unsuccessful assault on the city, under cover of a heavy snowstorm. Montgomery's men faltered when they reached a blockhouse at Cape Diamond on the outskirts of Quebec, and he was killed by artillery fire while trying to encourage them forward. His body was later recognised by officers of the British garrison and he was buried with full honours. He had been promoted to major-general on 9 December but had not received the news.
News of his death was greeted with scenes of regret in New York, Philadelphia, and London, where both Burke and Fox commented in the commons on his death. A monument was erected to his memory in St Paul's church in New York, and in 1818 his remains were returned to New York and reinterred in St Paul's. A memorial plaque was also placed at Cape Diamond where he died. There are substantial collections of his letters in the New York Public Library, the Library of Congress, and the New York Historical Society. He has also been the subject of several biographies, including Hal T. Shelton, General Richard Montgomery and the American revolution (1994).