People of the American Revolution

Samuel Adams

A strong opponent of British taxation, Adams helped organize resistance in Boston to Britain's Stamp Act of 1765. He also played a vital role in organizing the Boston Tea Party—an act of opposition to the Tea Act of 1773—among various other political efforts as part of the Sons of Liberty. Adams served as a Massachusetts delegate to the Continental Congress until 1781. In that role, he urged a final break from Great Britain and signed America's Declaration of Independence alongside his second cousin, future U.S. President John Adams. Among his accomplishments, he founded Boston's Committee of Correspondence, which—like similar entities in other towns across the Colonies—proved a powerful tool for communication and coordination during the American Revolutionary War.

Crispus Attuks

All that is definitely known about Attucks is that he was the first to fall during the Boston Massacre on March 5, 1770. In 1888, the Crispus Attucks monument was unveiled in Boston Common.

Benjamin Franklin

American printer and publisher, author, inventor and scientist, and diplomat. One of the foremost of the Founding Fathers, Franklin helped draft the Declaration of Independence and was one of its signers, represented the United States in France during the American Revolution, and was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention. He made important contributions to science, especially in the understanding of electricity, and is remembered for the wit, wisdom, and elegance of his writing.

Bernando de Galvez

American printer and publisher, author, inventor and scientist, and diplomat. One of the foremost of the Founding Fathers, Franklin helped draft the Declaration of Independence and was one of its signers, represented the United States in France during the American Revolution, and was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention. He made important contributions to science, especially in the understanding of electricity, and is remembered for the wit, wisdom, and elegance of his writing.

Abigail Adams

As her husband, John Adams, was busy hammering out a new government, Abigail Adams expressed concern about how women would be treated. In one of her many letters to her husband, she requested that he "Remember the Ladies, and be more generous and favorable to them than your ancestors. Do not put such unlimited power into the hands of the Husbands. Remember all Men would be tyrants if they could." Abigail often expressed her thoughts on political matters with her husband. Throughout his career, Abigail had served as his unofficial adviser. Their letters show him seeking her counsel on many issues, including his presidential aspirations.

Patrick Henry

During the 1st Continental Congress he uttered the sentiment of unity and nationality, warming the hearts of all present when he said, " I am not longer a Virginian, I am an American." By 1775 Great Britain and the colonies were on the brink of war. Parliament said Massachusetts was in a state of rebellion. On March 25 the Virginia House of Burgesses met. They had to decide whether to join the cause. Patrick Henry spoke to the members before their vote. He urged his fellow Virginians to arm in self-defense and uttered the immortal words, "Give me liberty or give me death." This strong speech helped convinced them to join the Revolutionary War.

Marquis de Lafayette

French general and political leader who enthusiastically supported the American Revolution. He volunteered his time and money to help the Americans.Lafayette played a critical role in the ultimate victory of the Revolutionary War, co-leading American forces in the successful siege of Lord Cornwallis' British armies at Yorktown.

George Washington

George Washington first became well-known as the British commander in the French and Indian war. Later, in 1775, Washington was Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army for the American Revolution. General Washington gained the loyalty and respect of his men when he stayed the winter of 1778 in Valley Forge, despite the bitter cold, lack of supplies and deadly conditions.

Haym Solomon

Haym Salomon was committed to the idea of freedom. A Jewish man born in Poland, he had experienced little freedom in his home country. The idea of living in a country that valued liberty excited him. His contributions to the Patriot cause helped the colonists defeat Great Britain. He worked hard to finance the American Revolution by raising large amounts of money in addition to donating almost his entire fortune to the war efforts.

James Armistead

James Armistead was an African-American slave who was recruited by Marquis de Lafayette to spy on the British troops and report back to the Americans. After the war he was given freedom under the written recommendation of Lafayette and changed his name to James Armistead Lafayette to honor his hero.

John Adams

John Adams was a lawyer and leader of the American Revolution, and served as the second U.S. president from 1797 to 1801. Adams became a critic of Great Britain's authority in colonial America and viewed the British imposition of high taxes and tariffs as a tool of oppression. During the 1770s, he was a delegate to the Continental Congress. Despite his objection to what he thought was unfair taxation by the British, Adams, a principled man, represented the British soldiers accused of murder in the Boston Massacre of March 1770. Adams wanted to ensure that the soldiers-who were charged with firing into an unruly crowd of civilians in Boston and killing five people-received a fair trial.

John Hancock

John Hancock was a Founding Father committed to liberty of America. He was signer of the Declaration of Independence (and the largest, most fancy signature so that "King George can see it without his glasses on") and president of the Continental Congress.

John Paul Jones

John Paul Jones was the colonist greatest naval commander during America's War for Independence and is considered the "Father of the United States Navy." During the Revolution, Jones' ship was badly damaged and when asked if he wished to surrender he shouted out "I have not yet begun to fight". He then proceeded to ram the British ship Serapis and tie the two ships together. After brutal fighting the British surrendered. John Paul Jones ship was hopelessly damaged so he took over the enemy ship. Eight years after the American Revolution, the Continental Congress unanimously voted to award a Congressional Gold Medal to Captain John Paul Jones for his "valor and brilliant services" during the War, Jones became the first and only Continental Navy officer to receive this distinction for his service during the American Revolution.

King George III

King of England leading up to and during the American Revolutionary War. Refused to give up even after Great Britain was clearly losing. George III really wanted to keep America as a colony, but finally he gave in.

Mercy Otis Warren

Mercy Otis Warren was a Patriot writer that became known as the "First Lady" of the revolution. Warren wrote plays and poetry that expressed her views and feelings about America. She anonymously published one of the satirical plays. Her writings were anti-federalist and were often veiled attacks on public officials or politicians. She communicated by letters with Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson and Abigail Adams and urged leaders of the Revolution to include women's equal rights in the Constitution.

Thomas Jefferson

Thomas Jefferson was the writer of the Declaration of Independence; he unalienable rights as: Life, Liberty, & the Pursuit of Happiness. He took these rights from John Locke's idea of a social contract.

Thomas Paine

Thomas Paine wrote Common Sense, which convinced the colonists that it "made common sense" to declaring independence from Great Britain. Later that year, after the American Revolution began, Paine wrote the The Crisis, which stated, "These are the times that try men's souls"- encouraging Americans to keep fighting.

Wentworth Cheswell

Wentworth Cheswell is considered New Hampshire's first archaeologist and the first African-American elected to public office in the United States. He was an African-American patriot. He also rode north when Paul Revere rode west to warn colonists that the redcoats were coming. He served in the Continental Army and fought at the battle of Saratoga.