Charles Stedman (December 22, 1753 - June 26, 1812) was a British-American military officer who served during the American Revolutionary War (1775 - 1783). He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and took a law degree and William and Mary College, Virginia. Despite being American born, Stedman was a staunch Loyalist. When the Revolution broke out, he supported the crown and was awarded with a commissary post under British commander Sir William Howe. Stedman was fluent in German, perhaps learnt through connections with Pennsylvania German settlers, and became invaluable as an intermediary between Howe and Hessian auxiliaries. Twice he was captured and sentenced to death, and twice he escaped before the execution could be carried out. After the peace of 1783, he retired to England with the half-pay of a Colonel. He dedicated himself subsequently to compiling a history of the Revolutionary War, which was published in 1794. Later, from 1797, he worked at the office of deputy controller and accountant-general of the revenue of stamps. After his death in 1812, he was buried at Paddington.



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