Frontenac in August 1758. In the same year, he fell sick and was transferred to British-controlled Fort Stanwix in order to recuperate. After the conflict concluded in 1763, Willett returned to New York City, where he eventually entered into King's College in 1772 and graduated in 1776. As tensions increased between Great Britain and its North American colonies, Willett aligned himself with the Patriot cause and quickly became an informal leader of the New York City branch of the Sons of Liberty. As noted by American historian Larry Lowenthal, his primary activities during this period consisted of inciting colonial public opinion to support the Patriot cause via rabble-rousing tactics and engaging in numerous street fights. American Revolutionary War After news of the Battles of Lexington and Concord reached New York City on April 23, 1775, Willett and a group of fellow Patriots broke into the city arsenal and plundered its contents. When British forces stationed in the city attempted to load a convoy of military supplies onto the Asia on June 6, he led a crowd which confiscated the convoy. On June 20, Willett was involved in a Patriot raid on a British storehouse in Turtle Bay, Manhattan. On June 28, 1775, Willett enlisted in the 1st New York Regiment of the Continental Army's New York Line at the rank of captain; the regiment was led by Alexander McDougall. Six weeks later, the regiment took part in Richard Montgomery's failed invasion of British-held Quebec, including the Battle of Quebec on December 31, 1775. After returning to New York City, Willett fought against the British in the Battle of Long Island on August 26, 1776. Willett enlisted in the 3rd New York Regiment at the rank of lieutenant-colonel in mid-1776. Serving as Peter Gansevoort's aide-de-camp in the New York Highlands, Willett arrived at the now-abandoned Fort Stanwix in late-1777, renovating it and hastily establishing a garrison. On August 6, 1777, Willett led a successful raid on the camps of Barry St. Leger and Sir John Johnson, capturing large quantities of supplies and military intelligence. In June 1778, as his regiment was stationed at Fort Stanwix, Willett received permission from Gansevoort to join an army commanded by George Washington, participating in the Battle of Monmouth on June 28. Willett then participated in an expedition led by Goose Van Schaick against the Onondaga on April 1778 before returning to his regiment and seeing