Boston Massacre Facts

Boston Massacre printed by Paul Revere

Boston Massacre Facts - The Boston Massacre printed by Paul Revere

The Boston Massacre was a famous pre-revolutionary incident that occurred on March 5, 1770. British troops (Redcoats), who were quartered in the city, fired into a rioting mob killing five American civilians.

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The Boston Massacre
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The Boston Massacre Facts
This article contains fast facts and information about the Boston Massacre that erupted in 1770. The Boston Massacre fact files provides fast access to interesting facts and stats about this famous event in American history. The facts about the Boston Massacre Facts also provides interesting information about the people who were involved in the incident which became known as the Boston Massacre.

The Port of Boston in the mid 1700's

The Port of Boston in the mid 1700's

50 Facts about the Boston Massacre Facts
The following facts about the Boston Massacre Facts provide interesting facts and an overview and description of the vessel and the living conditions of the passengers.

Boston Massacre Facts

Boston Massacre Fact 1The Boston Massacre took place on the evening of March 5, 1770
 
 
Boston Massacre Fact 2The location of the incident was in front of the Customs House on King Street
 
 
Boston Massacre Fact 3The heavy military presence in the town that lead to the incident was the result of British enforcement of the Townshend Acts of 1767
 
 
Boston Massacre Fact 4The British soldiers (redcoats) had arrived in Boston on September 28, 1768
 
 
Boston Massacre Fact 5There were 4,000 British troops and about 20,000 residents at the time of the incident.
 
 
Boston Massacre Fact 6Two famous men led the different factions. Thomas Hutchinson was the royal governor and Samuel Adams was a patriot and the man of the people

 
 
Boston Massacre Fact 7The day before the incident on March 4, 1770 dozens of Bostonians had clashed with British troops at John Gray's Ropewalk in the Fort Hill district

 
 
Boston Massacre Fact 8Private Matthew Kilroy had argued with Samuel Gray at Gray's Ropewalks. Private Kilroy would later be convicted of manslaughter of Samuel Gray 

 
 
Boston Massacre Fact 9On the snowy evening of March 5, 1770 a British soldier called Hugh White became involved in a confrontation with some citizens. Hugh White struck a young boy called Edward Garrick with the butt of his rifle for insulting a British officer called Captain Goldfinch
 
 
Boston Massacre Fact 10Private White called for assistance which was answered by Captain Thomas Preston and 8 British soldiers.
 
 
Boston Massacre Fact 11A redcoat called Private Montgomery was hit in the face by a stick and fired into the crowd killing a black man called Crispus Attucks
 
 
Boston Massacre Fact 12Other shots were fired. Private Kilroy shot and killed a man called Samuel Gray
 

 

 
Boston Massacre Fact 13Altogether 5 civilians were killed. Their names were Crispus Attucks, Samuel Gray, Patrick Carr, Samuel Maverick and James Caldwell
 
 
Boston Massacre Fact 14Six other civilians were wounded during the incident
 
 
Boston Massacre Fact 15The soldiers involved were arrested - all pleaded not guilty
 
 
Boston Massacre Fact 16The victims were hailed as heroes and buried together in the Granary Burying Ground
 
 
Boston Massacre Fact 1712,000 Bostonians joined the funeral procession that made symbolic trip to the Liberty Tree
 
 
Boston Massacre Fact 18The Governor William Hutchison instigated an investigation and reported his findings to London
 
 
Boston Massacre Fact 19A town meeting held at Faneuil Hall appointed their own committee to investigate the incident. Samuel Adams was the chairman of the committee who insisted that the British troops left the town.
 
 
Boston Massacre Fact 20The British troops left the town and stayed at Castle William which was an old fort in Boston Harbor.
 
 
Boston Massacre Fact 21The term 'Boston Massacre' was  coined by Samuel Adams
 
 
Boston Massacre Fact 22John Adams, the cousin of Samuel Adams who would become the second American President, was appointed to defend the Soldiers at the trial together with Josiah Quincy Jr.
 
 
Boston Massacre Fact 23The prosecutors were Robert Treat Paine and Samuel Quincy
 
 
Boston Massacre Fact 24Captain Thomas Preston and eight of his men were brought to trial on November 27, 1770.
 
 
Boston Massacre Fact 25The 8 British soldiers accused of murder were tried separately from their officer Captain Preston.
 
 
Boston Massacre Fact 26The names of the 8 soldiers were Corporal William Wemms, Private Hugh Montgomery, Private James Hartigan, Private William McCauley, Private Hugh White, Private Matthew Kilroy, Private William Warren and Private John Carroll.
 
 
Boston Massacre Fact 27Captain Thomas Preston was found not guilty and returned to England on December 2, 1770. He awarded £200 in compensation for the troubles he had endured during the incident
 
 
Boston Massacre Fact 28Two of the troops, Kilroy and Montgomery, were found guilty of manslaughter.
 
 
Boston Massacre Fact 299 days after their trial, on December 14, 1770, they returned to court for sentencing - which should have been the mandatory death penalty.
 
 
Boston Massacre Fact 30They both entered a claim, and were granted, the 'benefit of clergy' to avoid the death sentence. They were released but  were first branded on their thumb with the letter "M" for manslaughter.
 
 
Boston Massacre Fact 31Samuel Adams and Paul Revere used the incident as political propaganda to stir the patriots in the other colonies
 
 
Boston Massacre Fact 32The incident was followed by the Tea Act in 1773 followed by the Boston Tea Party in 1774.
 
 

Interesting Facts & Information

 

Picture of Samual Adams

Picture of Samuel Adams

Faneuil Hall meeting place, Boston

Faneuil Hall meeting place

Boston Massacre Facts
The article containing Boston Massacre facts is presented in a short, easy fact file format that is highly suitable for kids and schools. The facts of the tragic events are a fast and accurate way to gain a good understanding of the events this famous incident that played a major role in the American Revolutionary War. The facts include the major events of the incident together with important dates and the roles of different people who feature in the history of the Massacre.

The Boston Massacre Facts

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