I really enjoyed this biography of General Washington's artillery commander and right hand man, and found it to deserve the high ratings it has received. It contains a good bibliography and index, though a few maps or illustrations would have been nice. Recommended!

Knox was a bookseller in Boston, and this 19 year old was present at the Boston Massacre (later giving direct witness testimony) and the Boston Tea Party. After the opening shots of the revolution were fired, he led a group to drag 59 cannon more than 300 miles from Fort Ticonderoga to Cambridge. When these guns were used to liberate Boston, George Washington claimed his first victory of the war. He was at Valley Forge, crossing the Delaware with cannons on that fateful Christmas night. He was in direct command of the artillery at Yorktown during the battle that led to the surrender of Cornwallis and the end of the war.

He was nearly as influential in peacetime, acting as Secretary of War, drawing up plans for West Point and dealing with Shay's rebellion. He and Washington used their influence to make sure the veterans were paid. He called for a new constitution, and provided a plan for bicameral government to Washington who quoted from it extensively in correspondence to Madison.

Most reviewers laud praise on this book; only a few would recommend a biography published in 1960 instead. If based on the paragraphs above you want to know more about the Forrest Gump of the American Revolution, I found this book to be comprehensive and readable.