The Boston riot that left five colonists dead and gave birth to the American Revolution

The 1770 Boston Massacre

On March 5, 1770, British soldiers fired into a crowd of Boston colonists near the Custom House on King Street.

Five civilians died and six others were wounded in this bloody clash. Colonial leaders Samuel Adams and Paul Revere called it a “massacre” to paint the British as cruel oppressors.

This word choice helped turn public opinion against British rule.

John Adams, who later became the second U.S. president, wrote that American independence began that night on King Street.

British Troops in an Occupied Boston

By 1770, Boston felt like a city under military rule. About 2,000 British soldiers patrolled a town of just 16,000 people.

Redcoats stood guard at government buildings and often lived in citizens’ homes.

The British sent these troops to enforce the Townshend Acts, which taxed goods like lead, glass, paper, and tea.

Colonists hated these taxes because they had no say in making these laws. Bad blood between soldiers and townspeople grew daily as insults turned to fistfights.

The Ropemakers’ Brawl Ignites Tensions

Three days before the massacre, British soldier Patrick Walker went to John Gray’s rope-making shop looking for work.

Instead of offering a job, worker William Green told Walker to “clean out my shithouse.” This insult started a fight that grew larger as more workers and soldiers joined in.

One British soldier had his skull broken during the brawl. This violence made the already bad relations between soldiers and Boston workers even worse.

The Streets of Boston Tell Tales

On the cold night of March 5, Private Hugh White stood alone guarding the Custom House on King Street. This building collected the hated British taxes.

White got into a fight with Edward Garrick, a young wigmaker’s helper. Garrick had accused a British officer of not paying money owed to Garrick’s boss.

When Garrick wouldn’t stop yelling, White hit him with the butt of his musket. Word of this attack spread fast through Boston’s streets, drawing angry colonists toward King Street.

The Crowd Gathers on King Street

Soon Private White faced a growing mob outside the Custom House.

Church bells rang throughout Boston, normally a signal for fire, bringing more people into the streets. The crowd grew to 300-400 people who trapped White against the building.

They threw snowballs, ice chunks, and other objects at him.

Henry Knox, who later became a military leader, pushed through the crowd and warned White that firing his weapon would mean certain death at the hands of the angry mob.

Captain Preston Arrives with Reinforcements

White called for help as the mob threatened to kill him.

Captain Thomas Preston heard his call and brought seven soldiers from the 29th Regiment: Corporal William Wemms and Privates Hugh Montgomery, John Carroll, James Hartigan, William McCauley, William Warren, and Matthew Kilroy.

Preston had his men form a half-circle with bayonets fixed to their muskets. He stood in front of his troops, hoping to calm the situation by placing himself between the crowd and soldiers.

Confusion Leads to Deadly Force

The angry crowd pushed to within inches of the soldiers’ bayonets. They kept throwing objects while daring the soldiers to shoot.

Richard Palmes, a Boston man, stepped forward and asked Preston if the soldiers’ guns were loaded. Preston said yes but promised he wouldn’t order his men to fire.

Shortly after, someone threw a wooden club that knocked Private Montgomery to the ground. When Montgomery got back on his feet, he shouted “Damn you, Fire!” and shot into the crowd.

The Fatal Volley

After the first shot, other soldiers began firing without orders from Captain Preston. The guns created thick smoke in the cold air, adding to the confusion.

Richard Palmes struck Preston with a club and hit one soldier’s musket with a sword he had brought from home.

The scattered shots hit eleven men in total. Preston always maintained that he never gave an order to fire, and many witnesses later backed up his claim.

The Immediate Victims

Three men died right away: Samuel Gray, a rope maker; James Caldwell, a sailor; and Crispus Attucks, a mixed-race former slave who had escaped bondage around 1750 and worked on ships.

Samuel Maverick, a 17-year-old apprentice, was hit by a bouncing musket ball at the edge of the crowd. He died the next morning.

Patrick Carr, an Irish immigrant, was shot in the belly and suffered for two weeks before dying. Six others were wounded but lived.

Aftermath on the Night of March 5

Captain Preston quickly called for more troops to prevent a riot. These soldiers took defensive positions in front of the State House, ready for a possible uprising.

Acting Governor Thomas Hutchinson arrived and spoke to the angry crowd from a balcony. He promised to investigate the shooting, which helped calm the mob.

Before morning, local officials had arrested Captain Preston and all eight soldiers involved in the shooting. They were jailed and charged with murder.

Samuel Adams Demands Troop Removal

The day after the massacre, Samuel Adams led a committee to the Town House to confront colonial officials.

He demanded all British troops leave Boston immediately, arguing they now threatened public safety. Adams called an emergency town meeting at Faneuil Hall and won unanimous support for removing the troops.

Governor Hutchinson gave in to the pressure and moved all soldiers to Castle Island in the harbor. This retreat marked a big win for the colonial cause.

Visiting The Boston Massacre Site, Downtown Boston

The Boston Massacre Site is on State Street in downtown Boston, marked by a circular pattern of cobblestones beneath the east balcony of the Old State House.

The Freedom Trail, a red brick path in the sidewalk, leads directly to this historic spot.

The Old State House Museum at 206 Washington Street charges $15 for adults and offers exhibits about the massacre and colonial Boston.

Children under 17 enter free. Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market, just a five-minute walk away, contain shops and restaurants.

The Granary Burying Ground on Tremont Street, where all five massacre victims rest, opens daily from 9am to 5pm.

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