Thomas Hickey (soldier)

Thomas Hickey (c. 1740s – June 28, 1776) was a Continental Army soldier executed for mutiny, sedition, and treason during the American Revolutionary War. He is most notable for his role in a plot to assassinate General George Washington.

Born in Ireland, Hickey served in the British Army before deserting and later joining the Continental Army. He served as one of Washington's personal bodyguards. However, he was involved in a counterfeiting ring operating in New York City.

Hickey’s involvement in a larger conspiracy was uncovered when a fellow soldier, Isaac Ketcham, reported Hickey’s attempt to recruit him into a plot. The plot involved the British Governor William Tryon and Mayor David Mathews, and aimed to kidnap or assassinate General Washington, destabilize the Continental Army, and facilitate a British invasion of New York.

A court-martial found Hickey guilty of mutiny, sedition, and betraying the trust reposed in him. He was publicly hanged on June 28, 1776, in New York City, in front of a large crowd which included many Continental Army soldiers. The execution was intended as a warning against disloyalty and treason. The Hickey Plot, as it became known, led to increased security measures around General Washington and stricter vetting of personnel within the Continental Army. While the precise details of the plot remain debated among historians, Hickey's execution remains a significant event in the early history of the United States and a cautionary tale of betrayal during the Revolutionary War.