Early Life and Political Career:
- Born in Boston, Massachusetts, on September 27, 1722.
- Graduated from Harvard College in 1740.
- Elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives in 1765.
Role in the American Revolution:
- Led the Sons of Liberty in the Boston Tea Party on December 16, 1773, in protest against Tea Act|British tea taxes.
- Authored the Massachusetts Circular Letter (1768), which condemned the Intolerable Acts and called for colonial unity.
Continental Congress:
- Served as a delegate to the First and Second Continental Congresses (1774-1776).
- Advocated for independence from Britain.
Massachusetts Constitution:
- Helped draft the Massachusetts Constitution (1780), which became a model for other state constitutions.
Key Groups and Documents:
** Sons of Liberty:**
- Led the Sons of Liberty, a radical group that organized protests against British policies.
** Committees of Correspondence:**
- Chaired the Boston Committees of Correspondence, which exchanged information with other colonial committees and coordinated resistance efforts.
** Massachusetts Circular Letter:**
- Authored the Massachusetts Circular Letter (1768), a key document that condemned the Intolerable Acts and called for colonial unity.
Key People:
- Cousin and close political ally.
- Served alongside Sam Adams in the First Continental Congress and Second Continental Congress.
- Wealthy merchant and prominent patriot.
- Worked with Sam Adams to organize the Boston Tea Party.
Paul Revere:
- Messenger and engraver.
- Participated in the Boston Tea Party and carried messages between Patriot leaders.
Legacy:
- Known as the “Father of the American Revolution” for his leadership in the movement for independence.
- His radical ideas and organizing abilities played a crucial role in rallying support for the Revolution.
- Died in Boston on October 2, 1803, at the age of 81.