William Caldwell (ranger)

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William Caldwell (c. 1750 – 20 February 1822) was an Irish immigrant to North America who arrived in America in 1773 and who fought in several conflicts as a British soldier.

His initiation into combat was at Wyoming whether Pennsylvanians fought against Connecticut settlers. In 1774, he served in Dunmore's War. With the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War, Caldwell served with Lord Dunmore's forces in the attack on Norfolk, Virginia, and was injured. In 1775 he left Philadelphia for Fort Niagara where is was appointed an officer in the Indian Department. He was appointed a Captain in Butler's Rangers on 24 December 1777. In September, 1778 he lead an Attack on German Flatts (1778) where he destroyed all of the buildings and grain in the area. Based out of Detroit, he led a force of about 50 rangers in many battles and expeditions in Kentucky and the Ohio Country. In 1782, he led his rangers and American Indians in victories over the Crawford expedition, and at the battle of Blue Licks.

After the war, he settled in the Detroit region. He became a merchant; his partner was Matthew Elliott. With the outbreak of the War of 1812, he was given command of a group called Caldwell's Rangers (or the Western Rangers). He fought at the battle of the Thames and the battle of Longwoods, among many other actions.

He was the father of Billy Caldwell, who was known as Sauganash.