American Revolution - People

Abigail Adams

John Adam's wife, she appealed to her husband to protect the rights of women. a member of the Daughters of Liberty

Alexander Hamilton

Caribbean born Revolutionary! He was a leader in the American Revolution and went on to be the first secretary of the treasury

Baron von Steuben

A stern, Prussian drillmaster that taught American soldiers during the Revolutionary War how to successfully fight the British.

Benedict Arnold

American General who was labeled a traitor when he assisted the British in a failed attempt to take the American fort at West Point.

Benjamin Franklin

American intellectual, inventor, and politician He helped to negotiate French support for the American Revolution.

Betsy Ross

American seamstress said to have made the first American flag at the request of George Washington

Crispus Attucks

The African-Native American man who was the first man to die in the Boston Massacre, also considered the first death in the Revolutionary War

George Washington

Commander of the Continental Army. He had led troops (rather unsuccessfully) during the French and Indian War, and had surrendered Fort Necessity to the French. He was appointed commander-in-chief of the Continental Army, and was much more successful in this second command.

Haym Solomon

Successful merchant and banker of Jewish heritage that had immigrated to the colonies from Poland. He helped finance General Washington's campaign after the winter at Valley Forge. He also loaned money to the new government and key revolutionary leaders.

Hercules Mulligan

A tailor spy who helped get information for George Washington during the American Revolution

Horatio Gates

American General whose troops defeated the British forces at Saratoga.

John Adams

A Massachusetts attorney & politician who was a strong believer in colonial independence. He helped draft the Declaration of Independence. He later served as the second President of the United States.

John Hancock

Patriot leader and president of the Second Continental Congress; first person to sign the Declaration of Independence.

John Paul Jones

American naval commander in the American Revolution and father of the Navy. He said " I have not yet begun to fight."

Judith Sargent Murray

After the Revolutionary War, she argued for equal educational opportunities for women since many women did not have the chance to attend school.

King George III

King of England during the revolution, often called a tyrant

Marquis de Lafayette

Even though the King of France forbid it, he purchased a ship and gathered French military officers to travel to America and help the colonists in their struggle for independence. He was at Valley Forge with General Washington and helped train the soldiers of the Continental Army.

Molly Pitcher

Heroine of the American Revolution who carried water to soldiers during the Battle of Monmouth and took over her husband's gun when he was overcome by heat

Nathan Hale

A soldier of the American Revolution who was hanged as a spy by the British - said ""I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country."

Patrick Henry

Gave the "give me liberty or give me death" speech to the Virginia House of Burgesses to convince them to support the war.

Paul Revere

American silversmith remembered for his midnight ride (celebrated in a poem by Longfellow) to warn the colonists in Lexington and Concord that British troops were coming (1735-1818)

Sam Adams

He was a leader of the Sons of Liberty. Adams was crucial in spreading the principle of colonial rights throughout New England and is credited with provoking the Boston Tea Party..

Sons of Liberty

A group of colonists who formed a secret society to oppose British policies at the time of the American Revolution.

Thomas Jefferson

Author of Declaration of Independence and the third president of the USA.

Thomas Paine

Patriot and writer whose pamphlet Common Sense, published in 1776, convinced many Americans that it was time to declare independence from Britain. He also wrote The American Crisis to urge colonists to join the fight against the British.