Caleb Gibbs

Caleb Gibbs (1748–1818) was the first commander of the Commander-in-Chief's Guard, the unit that protected General George Washington during the American Revolutionary War. Biography Gibbs was born on February 28, 1748, in Newport, Rhode Island. He took up residence in Marblehead, Massachusetts. During the American Revolutionary War, Gibbs was appointed as the adjutant of the 14th Continental Regiment, commanded by Colonel John Glover of Marblehead, on January 1, 1776. On 12 March 1776, General Washington appointed Captain Gibbs as the commander of the Commander-in-Chief's Guard, with the title of captain commandant. Three years later, in 1779, Gibbs was succeeded as commander by William Colfax. During his command of Washington's "Life Guard" Gibbs was promoted to the rank of Major on July 29, 1778. Gibbs was succeeded by William Colfax as commander of the Life Guard. On January 1, 1781 Gibbs was reassigned to the 2nd Massachusetts Regiment. On October 14, 1781 he fought at the Battle of Yorktown where he was wounded in action. Gibbs was brevetted to the rank of lieutenant colonel on September 30, 1783.