James Mitchell Varnum, born in Dracut, Massachusetts, in 1748, graduated with a high reputation for scholarship in 1769, at the age of twenty, from Rhode Island College, now Brown University. He adopted the law as his profession, was admitted to the Bar, and rapidly acquired an extensive and lucrative practice. Reading the signs of the times aright, and feeling that soon there must be an appeal to arms, he joined the “Kentish Guards,” and in 1774 was made commander. Soon after the battle of Lexington, he entered the Continental service as colonel; and on the 21st of February, 1777, he was promoted to the rank of brigadier-general. With undoubted military ability, he enjoyed few opportunities of distinguishing himself, though assigned several important commands. He passed the winter of 1777–78 with Washington at Valley Forge, and in the spring proposed the raising of a battalion of negroes in Rhode Island; the State Legislature acceded, and passed an act giving absolute freedom to every slave who should enter the service and pass muster.

On the 5th of March, 1779, Varnum resigned his commission, there being a greater number of general officers than was required for the army; but soon after, he was elected major-general of the militia of his native State, retaining that position until his death. He was twice elected to Congress, and in 1788 removed to Marietta, Ohio, having been appointed one of the judges of the Supreme Court of the Northwest Territory. He was a member of the Society of the Cincinnati. Death put an end to his brief but brilliant career on the 10th of January, 1789.