   artemas ward (november 26, 1727 &ndash; october 28, 1800) was an american major general in the american revolutionary war and a congressman from massachusetts. president john adams described him as "...universally esteemed, beloved and confided in by his army and his country." he was considered an effective political leader. ==early life and career== artemas was born at shrewsbury, massachusetts, in 1727 to nahum (1684â1754) and martha (howe) ward.  he was the sixth of seven children. his father had broad and successful career interests as a sea captain, merchant, land developer, farmer, lawyer and jurist. as a child he attended the common schools and shared a tutor with his brothers and sisters. he graduated from harvard in 1748 and taught there briefly. on july 31, 1750, he married sarah trowbridge (december 3, 1724 &ndash; 
1727_births 1800_deaths Continental_Army_generals Continental_Army_officers_from_Massachusetts Continental_Congressmen_from_Massachusetts Harvard_University_alumni Harvard_University_faculty Massachusetts_colonial_people Members_of_the_United_States_House_of_Representatives_from_Massachusetts Members_of_the_colonial_Massachusetts_Governor\'s_Council People_from_Shrewsbury,_Massachusetts People_of_Massachusetts_in_the_American_Revolution People_of_Massachusetts_in_the_French_and_Indian_War Speakers_of_the_Massachusetts_House_of_Representatives