Thomas Conway, an officer in the American revolution, born in Ireland, Feb. 27,1733, died about 1800. He was educated in France, where he entered the army and attained the rank of colonel. He came to the United States in 1777, at the recommendation of Silas Deane, and was at once made a brigadier general. He was at the battles of Brandy wine and German-town, and in December, 1777, was made inspector general with the rank of major general, against the protest of Washington. All through the terrible winter which Washington passed at Valley Forge, Conway was secretly plotting against him, and endeavoring to secure the promotion of Gates to the chief command. His proceedings became so notorious that the conspiracy was known as " Conway's cabal," and he became very unpopular. Early in 1778 he sent in his resignation, which to his surprise was promptly accepted. On July 4 of that year he fought a duel with Gen. Cadwallader, and, having received what he supposed to be a mortal wound, wrote a letter to Washington in which he said, "You are in my eyes the great and good man." He recovered, however, returned to France, and in 1784 was appointed governor of Pondicherry and all the French settlements in India, with the rank of marechal de camp.

On the breaking out of the French revolution he was forced to fly, and his life was saved only by the interposition of the British authorities.