Colonial Attorney General and Brigadier General. Cortlandt Skinner practiced law in Newark, NJ before receiving an appointment of Attorney General of New Jersey in 1754, a position in which he served until the outbreak of hostilities between England and the colonies in 1776. Simultaneously, from 1765 to 1770, he served as Speaker of the Assembly. When the war began, Skinner went to New York where he was authorized to raise a corps of Loyalist soldiers which became known as the New Jersey Volunteers or Skinner's Greens. Skinner was named Brigadier General as of 4 September 1776. His unit was the largest loyalist unit in the British Army. Throughout the entirety of the war, Skinner's Greens defended Staten Island, and launched raids from there into New Jersey. Skinner left New York with the British in 1783 to settle in England, and received the half-pay of a brigadier general for the remainder of his life.
Colonial Attorney General and Brigadier General. Cortlandt Skinner practiced law in Newark, NJ before receiving an appointment of Attorney General of New Jersey in 1754, a position in which he served until the outbreak of hostilities between England and the colonies in 1776. Simultaneously, from 1765 to 1770, he served as Speaker of the Assembly. When the war began, Skinner went to New York where he was authorized to raise a corps of Loyalist soldiers which became known as the New Jersey Volunteers or Skinner's Greens. Skinner was named Brigadier General as of 4 September 1776. His unit was the largest loyalist unit in the British Army. Throughout the entirety of the war, Skinner's Greens defended Staten Island, and launched raids from there into New Jersey. Skinner left New York with the British in 1783 to settle in England, and received the half-pay of a brigadier general for the remainder of his life.
Bio by: Dan Silva
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