John was initially trained as an optician and instrument maker in New York City and became a prosperous wine merchant.

When the news of the Battles of Lexington and Concord was received he and his men seized the military stores at Turtle Bay.

He was commissioned a captain of an artillery company and served under Richard Montgomery and Benedict Arnold in the Battle of Quebec.

[4] On October 9, Lamb was the Officer of the Day when General Washington fired the first American cannon to open the siege.

[5] He was dismissed by President John Adams in 1797 after his deputy was accused of defrauding the Federal government of tax revenues.