Who was the 280-pound colonel who turned his bookstore over to his brother so he could fight the British during the Revolutionary War?

The man you are looking for is Henry Knox, whom I consider to be one of the most inspirational figures from the Revolutionary War. Prior to the American Revolution, Knox operated a bookstore, but he was very interested in military history and had read a number of books on the subject. When war broke out, he formed a friendship with George Washington and eventually became Washington's chief artillery officer.

One of Knox's most notable actions during the war was managing the transport of more than 60 tons of cannons and mortar from Fort Ticonderoga in New York to Boston. This feat was astounding due to its extreme difficulty; the cannons had to be hauled by oxen through snowy mountains and over icy rivers. This artillery battery gave Washington the upper hand in Boston.

Following the American Revolution, Henry Knox continued to play an important role in American military affairs. President Washington appointed him as the first U.S. Secretary of War under the Constitution.