Thomas Gage Painting: by unknown artist  Royal Governor of
Massachusetts: 1774  The commissioning of Thomas Gage as Royal
Governor of Massachusetts was a clear sign that English
tolerance of rebellion in Massachusetts had reached its limit.
Gage had a decade of service in the English infantry, was
familiar with combat in American from the French and Indian War,
and had been Commander-In-Chief of British Forces in North
America.  He began his administration in May of 1774, by
enforcing a series of "Coercive Measures" imposed by England in
response to the Boston Tea Party. The Boston Port Act closed
Boston Harbor until the Colony made amends to the East India Tea
Company, injured customs officers, and until the King certified
that peace was restored in Boston. Further acts suspended
Massachusetts' legislature, banned town meetings and juries,
provided for troops to be housed in private residence, and
enabled the Governor to suspend laws and move trials to England
as he thought fit.  The revolutionary response c