Adventurer, born in Dublin, Ireland. His father was a trumpeter in the army, and the son was born in the soldiers’ barracks. In 1774 he arrived in New York City, where, at first, he gave lessons in riding. At the beginning of the Revolution his hot-headed declarations of Toryism rendered him obnoxious to many, and he was driven from the city. He then went to Boston, continuing his former course. Here he came under the notice of General Gage, who saw in the man a devoted loyalist, and appointed him provost-marshal of the British army. In 1778 he was at first superintendent of the prisons in Philadelphia, and later those of New York City, where he became notorious for many cruelties. At the close of the war Cunningham returned to Europe, and settled in Wales. Later he went to London, where he led a dissipated life, and to obtain money was induced to commit forgery. For this felony he was executed in London on the 10th of August 1791.
