HUMPTON, Col. Richard, who is understood to have preferred the charge against Gen. Wayne for his conduct at the "affair of the Paoli," was a native of Yorkshire, England, where he was born in 1733.  He was for some time a captain in the British army, when he resigned his commission and emigrated to Pennsylvania.  When the Revolutionary contest came on a commission in the Continental army was offered to him, which he accepted. He was a brave man and stood high in the esteem of Gen. Washington, by whom he was frequently entrusted with important and responsible duties, and was employed by him confidentially on various occasions. 

At the battle of Brandywine, where he had a command, his horse was shot under him, when he coolly ungirthed the saddle, slung it over his shoulder, and proceeded to place it on another horse.  At the battle of Germantown he had the command of a brigade, which was in action.  After the Revolution he settled on a farm in Chester County, where he resided the remainder of his life.  He received the appointment of adjutant-general of Pennsylvania from governor Mifflin, with whom and his secretary, Alexander J. Dallas, Dr. Benjamin rush, and other distinguished worthies of his day, he was on intimate terms.  He was one of the original members of the Society of the Cincinnati, and his name occurs in the list of members between those of two gallant Pennsylvanians, Gen. Anthony Wayne and Gen. William Irvine.  He died Dec. 21, 1804, leaving no descendants, and was interred in the burying-ground of Friends' Meeting at Caln.