John Pitcairn

John Pitcairn (1722 – 1775) was a British marine officer stationed in Boston, Massachusetts, for a time before the American Revolutionary War, and a member of the Colonial Rite of the Templar Order. He is notable for commanding British troops during the Battles of Lexington and Concord and the Battle of Bunker Hill at the onset of the war, and was killed by the Assassin Ratonhnhaké:ton during the latter.
==Biography==
===Early life===
John Pitcairn was raised in Scotland and left his home country in 1746, when he enlisted in the Royal Marines as a Lieutenant, to assist in the growing tension between the French and British in Colonial America.Assassin's Creed III – Database: John Pitcairn Eventually, he was promoted to the rank of Captain and began working reconnaissance jobs for the military. By 1754, Pitcairn had also become a member of the Templar Order.Assassin's Creed III
===Templar beginnings===
Using his contact with the British Rite of the Templar Order, Pitcairn proved himself a valuable asset as a possible co-conspirator for the newly created group in the British American colonies. Early in 1754, Commander Amherst arranged for him to be moved to the Copp's Hill Battery in Boston to assist the other Templars.
While in Boston, General Edward Braddock noticed Pitcairn's unauthorized presence and had him arrested and charged for desertion and treason. Haytham Kenway and Charles Lee arrived, revealing that both Lee and Pitcairn were in Haytham's service under Templar orders. Braddock, having previously and reluctantly consented to give Lee to Haytham, bitterly denied releasing Pitcairn and forced him to remain under his command.Assassin's Creed III – The Soldier
In a plan to retrieve Pitcairn, Lee followed and pretended to be an angry citizen against the Redcoats, provoking Braddock into a chase by throwing horse manure on him. Lee lured Braddock and his men to a dead end, which allowed him, Haytham, and Pitcairn to attack and eliminate Braddock's patrol. Haytham spared Braddock, leaving him humiliated and furious as Pitcairn accompanied Haytham and Lee to Green Dragon Tavern.
Pitcairn joined Haytham's fold along with William Johnson, Thomas Hickey, Benjamin Church and Lee. At the tavern, Haytham proposed his plan to infiltrate Southgate Fort, murder Silas Thatcher, a notorious slaver, and free his Kanien'kehá:ka slaves. By freeing the captive slaves, Haytham would be able to gain favor with the Kanien'kehá:ka in order to gain information that would lead them to a Precursor site.Assassin's Creed III – Infiltrating Southgate
Using a cart as a roadblock, Pitcairn and the others proceeded to ambush a slave convoy, killing the escorts, before disguising themselves in their uniforms and transporting the cart to the fort. Inside Southgate Fort, Haytham stealthily freed the slaves while Pitcairn blended with and distracted the guards. However, upon realizing that the slaves had escaped, Silas raised the alarm. To this, Pitcairn and the others triggered a battle, fending off the guards while Haytham and Church killed Silas, allowing them to free the remaining slaves.
Over the next several months, Pitcairn resumed his service in the British military in Canada for the French and Indian War. In July of 1755, Pitcairn rejoined his Templar brothers in Lexington to participate in Haytham's plan to assassinate Braddock. As agreed, Pitcairn attacked Braddock's expedition to Fort Duquesne, and in the resulting chaos, Haytham assassinated Braddock, eventually learning of the location to the Precursor site.Assassin's Creed III – The Braddock Expedition
Soon after, Haytham inducted Lee into the Templar Order and altered the group's mission into establishing a permanent presence and influence in the British American colonies. During this time, Pitcairn remained in the British Army, where he earned his reputation as a peacekeeper during his career and was promoted to the rank of Major by 1771.
===The Battles at Lexington and Concord===
The American colonists eventually rebelled against the British rule, escalating to the point of armed conflict, to which the colonists formed their own military force, the Continental Army, otherwise known as the Patriots. Pitcairn led the British Army to Lexington and Concord in order to seize the rebel weapons and to arrest Samuel Adams and John Hancock, the Patriot leaders, intending to negotiate a diplomatic solution.
Pitcairn and his forces marched into Lexington where he ordered rebels to leave, to which most of them fled, before Pitcairn made the first attack that forced the rebelling colonists to retreat to Concord. While en route to clear the remaining opposition, Pitcairn was halted by the Patriots, where they made their stand from across a river.Assassin's Creed III – Lexington and Concord
With only one bridge to travel across, Pitcairn had his men form firing lines to shoot down the rebels from afar; however Ratonhnhaké:ton, an Assassin, directed the opposing militia. As a result, Pitcairn suffered heavy losses and was forced to retreat and the continued conflict delayed Pitcairn's chances of a peaceful settlement.
===The Battle at Bunker Hill===
Shortly after, the Continental Army led an assault on the city of Boston, led by General Israel Putnam. Pitcairn remained safely inside the city while a pair of British frigates provided cannon fire from the harbor, keeping the Continental Army at bay on Bunker Hill. Ratonhnhaké:ton once again assisted the Continentals, to which he was able to reach and sabotage the ships,Assassin's Creed III – Conflict Looms forcing Pitcairn out of the city and to an encampment on top of Moulton's Hill, where he continued to command his troops. Completely unaware that Ratonhnhaké:ton was nearby, Pitcairn stationed himself out into the open, watching the battle as it unfolded.Assassin's Creed III – Battle of Bunker Hill
===Death===
Ratonhnhaké:ton was able to evade the firing lines, where he advanced and infiltrated the camp undetected, before he finally assassinated Pitcairn.
With his last words, Pitcairn stated that he wanted to make a truce with the rebels and blamed Ratonhnhaké:ton for his death, stating that it would only worsen the war. As he perished, the Assassin took a letter from Pitcairn's body and fled the area, ultimately uncovering the Templar assassination plot of George Washington.
==Personality and traits==
Pitcairn was a keen soldier and strategist from years of experience and service in the British military, but was not a militant man like Edward Braddock was, instead prizing peace above many other things. He also had strong leadership qualities and charisma, and as a result, he was well liked by his troops and even respected by his enemies. This earned Pitcairn's reputation as a peacekeeper, hence he was sent to peacefully settle the colonist rebellion.
Similar to William Johnson, Pitcairn had a genuine concern for the lives of the soldiers on both sides of the conflict, and desired to settle the conflict with few casualties. He was likewise devoted to the Templar ideology, and dedicated to his role as a peacekeeper. Hence he aimed to replace war with diplomacy, in the hopes to avoid a massively destructive war. Pitcairn believed that the British needed to stay in power over the British colonies, since they had the greater position of authority, and were more likely to preserve order and peace.
==Behind the scenes==
John Pitcairn is a historical character introduced in Assassin's Creed III, where he was voiced by the British actor Robert Lawrenson. Historically, Pitcairn was shot and killed by , a freed slave serving in the Continental Army, while leading the final charge of the British Army at Bunker Hill. This could be seen in the The Death of General Warren painting.
==Gallery==
ACMPitcairn.jpg|Assassin's Creed: Memories art of Pitcairn
ACMPitcairnBattle.jpg|Memories art of Pitcairn in battle
ACIII-Soldier 5.png|Haytham demanding Pitcairn's release from Braddock's service
ACIII-BraddockExpedition 18.png|Pitcairn and the others during Charles Lee's induction
Battle of Bunker Hill 9.png|Pitcairn's final moments
==Appearances==
*Assassin's Creed III 
*Assassin's Creed: Forsaken
*Assassin's Creed: Memories
==References==
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ru:Джон Питкерн
zh:约翰·皮特凯恩
Category:1722 births
Category:1775 deaths
Category:Individuals
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Category:Colonial Templars