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Boston, Massachusetts

The Boston
Massacre

March 5, 1770

Five colonists killed. A city outraged. An empire on the edge. Explore the incident that ignited the American Revolution.

Read the History View Timeline
5
Colonists Killed
9
Soldiers Charged
8 mo.
Until Trial
4,000
British Troops in Boston
1516
Google Reviews (4.6 ★)

What Was It

The Killing That Sparked a Revolution

The Boston Massacre was the culmination of tensions that had been building since Royal troops first appeared in Massachusetts in October 1768.

The Massacre was the 1770 pre-Revolutionary incident growing out of the anger against the British troops sent to Boston to maintain order and to enforce the Townshend Acts. The troops, constantly tormented by gangs, finally on March 5, 1770, fired into a crowd and killed five men — three on the spot, two of wounds later.

In 1768, the Commissioners of Customs were so intimidated by resistance in Boston that they demanded military protection. Boston's fifteen thousand or so residents were clearly the worst malcontents on the North American continent. General Thomas Gage ordered the regiments — the 14th West Yorkshire Fusiliers and the 29th Worcestershire — to Boston from Halifax. Six weeks later, the 64th and 65th Regiments arrived from Ireland, bringing the total to roughly 700 men. To the people of Boston, the coming of the troops was outrageous.

The Massacre became a legendary event of the American rebellion against the British with many controversies and myths surrounding the true facts. Even when the gun smoke faded, the subsequent murder trial raised high emotions. The British captain, Thomas Preston, and his men were tried for murder, with Robert Treat Paine as prosecutor and John Adams and Josiah Quincy as counsel for the defense. Preston and six of his men were acquitted; two others were found guilty of manslaughter, punished, and discharged from the army.

The impact on the cause of the American Revolution was profound. Despite the best efforts of authorities to cool down anti-British sentiments — immediately removing troops from Boston and postponing the trial — the net result was an increase in support for independence. The next five years preceding the Revolution gave Patriots many chances to put in practice the lessons learned during the Boston Massacre.

Scene from the Boston Massacre — the confrontation at King Street, March 5, 1770

The scene at King (now State) Street, Boston, March 5, 1770. British regulars fired into a crowd of colonists outside the Customs House.

Chronology

Historic Timeline

It took only a few hours for the tragic events to unfold in March 1770 — but several years of mounting tension made them inevitable.

June 29, 1767
British Parliament Passes the Townshend Acts
The heavy presence of British troops in Boston that led to the fatal shooting was the direct result of the Townshend Acts passed by British Parliament to impose additional taxes on common products imported into the colonies — including paper, glass, and tea. Colonial resistance was immediate and fierce.
October 1, 1768
British Troops Begin Arriving in Boston
On October 1, 1768, British regulars arrived in Boston to maintain order. The civilians reacted like they were invaders — taunting through name calling, spitting, and fighting. The people of Boston had gained control of local power and frequently prevented soldiers from carrying out their duties. During the next eighteen months, tension mounted between both sides.
February 22, 1770
The Death of Christopher Seider
Just eleven days before the Massacre, Christopher Seider was shot dead on February 22, 1770, in a fight between a mob and British loyalists that started from throwing rocks at the shop of a Loyalist merchant. His death inflamed colonial passions. Seider should rightfully be considered the first victim of this period of unrest.
March 5, 1770 — 9:00 PM
The Boston Massacre
The Twenty-Ninth Regiment came to the relief of the Eighth on duty at the Customs House on King (now State) Street. Led by Captain Thomas Preston, the soldiers were met by a large and taunting crowd. Unable to disperse the crowd, as they chanted "Fire and be damned!" Captain Preston ordered "Don't Fire!" — but with all the commotion the soldiers likely did not hear his orders, and they opened fire, killing three men instantly and wounding others, two of whom died later from their injuries.
October 24–30, 1770
The Trial of Captain Preston
Seven months later, Captain Thomas Preston was tried for murder in what became one of the longest trials in Colonial history. Defended by John Adams and Josiah Quincy — future Patriot leaders — Preston was fully acquitted. It was the first time a judge used the phrase "reasonable doubt" in a colonial court. The jury did not include a single Bostonian.
November 27 – December 14, 1770
The Trial of the Eight Soldiers
A second trial began for the eight soldiers. Six were acquitted. Two — Privates Matthew Killroy and Hugh Montgomery — were found guilty of manslaughter, not murder. In a remarkable legal maneuver, both invoked the medieval "Benefit of Clergy" defense, reducing their punishment from execution to branding the letter "M" on their thumbs. They were discharged from the army.
March 5, 1775 — Annual Tradition
The Massacre Anniversary Orations Begin
Patriots turned the anniversary of the Massacre into an annual political event. In 1774, John Hancock delivered a famous oration on the fourth anniversary, keeping the memory of the event alive and stoking revolutionary sentiment. These orations continued until the start of the Revolutionary War in 1775, when the anniversary was replaced by Independence Day celebrations.

The Fallen

The Five Victims

At the midst of the confrontation, the crowd in front of the Customs House was estimated at 300 to 400 men. Three colonists died on the scene that night; two more died from their wounds in the days that followed.

All five victims — Crispus Attucks, Samuel Gray, James Caldwell, Samuel Maverick, and Patrick Carr — were buried at Granary Burying Ground in Boston. A sixth person, Christopher Monk, survived but was so severely injured he is often considered the sixth victim of the Massacre.

"From that moment we may date the severance of the British Empire."
— Daniel Webster, on the Boston Massacre
Crispus Attucks, first martyr of the American Revolution
Crispus Attucks
Died on the Spot · First Martyr

A sailor of African American and Native American descent. Attucks was among the first to fall and became the most famous of the victims — recognized as the first martyr of the American Revolution. He emerged as a symbol of the black men who fought in the cause of American independence.

Samuel Gray, rope-maker
Samuel Gray
Died on the Spot

A rope-maker who died on the spot. He was one of the hardiest brawlers in Boston, known for his involvement in previous clashes between colonists and British soldiers at the ropewalks. His presence that night was almost inevitable.

James Caldwell, sailor
James Caldwell
Died on the Spot

A mate from the brig Hawk, Caldwell was only 17 years old when he was shot. A sailor by trade, he was among the youngest to perish in the confrontation. His youth made his death particularly galvanizing to the colonial cause.

Samuel Maverick
Samuel Maverick
Died the Following Morning

A youth of seventeen years of age, mortally wounded in the shooting, he died the next morning. His death — the day after the incident — prolonged the agony of the event for the community of Boston and deepened the sense of injustice felt by colonists.

Patrick Carr
Patrick Carr
Died Two Weeks Later

A leather worker and Irish immigrant, Carr died two weeks after the shooting. On his deathbed, he reportedly told his doctor that he did not blame the soldiers — testimony later used by the defense at trial. His account was among the most credible eyewitness accounts given.

Christopher Monk, the sixth victim
Christopher Monk
Wounded — The Sixth Victim

Christopher Monk was severely wounded but survived the initial shooting. However, he suffered lasting injuries for the remainder of his life and should rightfully be considered the sixth victim of the Massacre. His prolonged suffering was a continual reminder of that night's violence.

Paul Revere's engraving of the Boston Massacre — 'The Bloody Massacre perpetrated in King Street' Detail of British soldiers from Paul Revere's engraving

Paul Revere, 1770

The Famous Engraving — Explained

Paul Revere wasted no time in capitalizing on the Massacre to highlight British tyranny. Within three weeks of the incident, he was advertising his prints for sale in Boston newspapers. The engraving — officially titled "The Bloody Massacre perpetrated in King Street, Boston on March 5th 1770 by a party of the 29th Regiment" — became perhaps the most recognized symbol of the American Revolution.

But as you will see, Revere's engraving is long on political propaganda and short on accuracy.

Documentation has revealed that Revere copied engraver Henry Pelham's drawings of the Massacre, produced his own version, and flooded the market before Pelham's prints were even available. A third engraving was executed by Jonathan Mulliken. Despite the controversy, Revere actually created a second, far more historically accurate diagram of the scene — submitted as evidence in the trial — that remains virtually unknown to the public.

  • The British Grenadiers are shown standing in a straight, ordered volley line — when in reality, both sides were belligerent and riotous.
  • Revere's engraving shows a blue sky — only a wisp of moon suggests the riot occurred after 9 PM on a cold winter night.
  • There is an absence of snow and ice on the street, though it was early March in Boston.
  • Crispus Attucks — a Black man lying closest to the soldiers — is depicted as white.
  • The building in the background bears a sign reading "Butcher's Hall," a deliberate piece of propaganda with no basis in fact.

October–December 1770

The Boston Massacre Trials

The trials ended quietly — eight months after the killings. It was the longest criminal trial in Colonial history. The first time a judge used the phrase "reasonable doubt." And a medieval relic, the Benefit of Clergy, was used by two soldiers to escape the death penalty.

The jury assembled for the trial did not include a single Bostonian — by design. Samuel Adams wrote several articles in the Boston Gazette during December 1770 accusing the soldiers of escaping with blood on their hands.

Speech for the Defence — John Adams
The trial speech that brought acquittal to the accused. "May it please your Honours..." Adams's closing argument is a landmark of legal reasoning and a cornerstone of American jurisprudence. He argued that facts, not passion, must guide a jury.
Preston's Account
An emotional first-hand account of the mob attack on the British soldiers, written by Captain Thomas Preston. Preston maintained throughout the trial that he never gave the order to fire.
Anonymous Patriot Account
The most famous account — a successful propaganda piece printed by Patriots. Widely distributed throughout the colonies, it framed the night as a calculated British atrocity against innocent citizens.
John Hancock's Oration (1774)
John Hancock's speech on the 4th anniversary of the Massacre, delivered in 1774, kept revolutionary passions alive. Annual orations on March 5th became a key part of Patriot political culture in the years leading to war.
The Verdicts
Nine British regulars were charged. The results surprised many on both sides of the Atlantic.
  • Captain Thomas Preston — Acquitted
  • Six soldiers — Acquitted
  • Pvt. Matthew Killroy — Guilty of Manslaughter (branded "M")
  • Pvt. Hugh Montgomery — Guilty of Manslaughter (branded "M")
  • Four others — Not charged (suspected of firing from windows)
Witness Depositions

There were dozens of witnesses testifying during the trial, each presenting their own version of events.

Theodore Bliss: "Went to the Custom house. Saw Capt. Preston there with the Soldiers. Asked him if they were loaded..."

Benjamin Burdick: "When I came into King Street about 9 o'Clock I saw the Soldiers round the Centinel."

Robert Goddard: "The Soldiers came up to the Centinel and the Officer told them to place themselves..."

Other depositions were provided by Nathaniel Fosdick, Governor Thomas Hutchinson, Richard Palmes, William Wyatt, Thomas Preston, and many others.

Key Figures

Participants of the Massacre

At the height of the confrontation, the crowd in front of the Customs House numbered between 300 and 400 men, making it hard to establish who did what. Key participants fell into three groups: the British soldiers, the agitators, and the victims.

British Soldiers Crown Forces
Captain Thomas Preston
Captain Thomas Preston
Officer of the Day commanding the British soldiers outside the Customs House. He was acquitted at trial after John Adams argued he could not have ordered the firing, as he stood between his men and the crowd.
Private Hugh White
Private Hugh White
The soldier on duty outside the Customs House on March 5 when the incident started. White struck a young man with his musket butt after being taunted, escalating the confrontation. He was acquitted.
Private Hugh Montgomery
Private Hugh Montgomery
Identified by many witnesses as the first soldier to fire — and the man who killed Crispus Attucks. Many also believed it was Montgomery, not Preston, who shouted "Damn you, fire!" Found guilty of manslaughter; branded "M."
Corporal William Wemms
Corporal William Wemms
The experienced noncommissioned officer who led the soldiers of the 29th Regiment to the relief of Private White, who was surrounded by the crowd. Acquitted at trial.
Lieutenant James Basset
Lieutenant James Basset
Second officer of the main guard under Preston. Despite his rank, Preston did not rely on him when sending soldiers to help White — an oversight that ultimately worked in Basset's favor, as he was never charged with the others.
Captain John Goldfinch
Captain John Goldfinch
The British officer who sparked the night's events when young wigmaker's apprentice Edward Garrick accused him of not paying his master's bill. In fact, Goldfinch had settled the bill the previous day — but the accusation set events in motion.
Victims & Agitators Colonists
Crispus Attucks
Crispus Attucks
African American and Native American sailor, died on the spot. He became the most famous of the victims and is considered the first martyr of the American Revolution.
Samuel Gray
Samuel Gray
A rope-maker and one of the hardiest brawlers in Boston. Died on the spot. Previously involved in confrontations between rope-walk workers and British soldiers.
James Caldwell
James Caldwell
A mate from the brig "Hawk," only 17 years old when he was shot and killed at the scene.
Samuel Maverick
Samuel Maverick
A youth of seventeen, mortally wounded that night. He died the following morning of his wounds.
Patrick Carr
Patrick Carr
A leather worker and Irish immigrant. Died two weeks after the shooting. On his deathbed, he reportedly said the soldiers had been provoked — deathbed testimony used by the defense.
Christopher Monk
Christopher Monk
Severely wounded but survived. His lasting injuries made him the unofficial sixth victim of the Massacre — a living reminder of the night's violence for years afterward.

By the Numbers

The Massacre in Facts

5
Civilians died as a result of the incident. Three died on the scene; two died of their wounds later. Some sources incorrectly report 7 total victims.
2
Separate Boston Massacre trials were held. Captain Preston's trial ran October 24–30, 1770. The soldiers' trial ran November 27 – December 14, 1770.
9
British regulars were charged during the trials. Preston and six of his men were acquitted. Two others were found guilty of manslaughter, punished, and discharged.
4,000
Troops were dispatched to Boston in October 1768 — a remarkable number given that Boston's entire population was only about 20,000 residents at the time.
8 mo.
The delay between the incident (March 5, 1770) and the first trial (October 24, 1770) — a deliberate strategy by authorities to let passions cool before proceedings.
3 yrs.
The three years following the Massacre — from 1770 to 1772 — passed relatively quietly without major confrontation between the British and the colonists.

History vs. Myth

Myths of the Boston Massacre

Starting from the name itself, this landmark event of the American Revolution proved to be a magnet for popular myths and misconceptions.

"It was called the 'Boston Massacre' from the start."

The name "Boston Massacre" did not become common until many years after 1770. Paul Revere's original title was The Bloody Massacre in King Street. In the early 1800s it was also known as the State Street Massacre.

"The Massacre directly caused the Revolutionary War."

Many history books describe the shooting as the spark that ignited the Revolution — but this overstates it. The Townshend Acts, the Stamp Act, and the Boston Tea Party were also critical milestones. The Massacre was important propaganda, not a direct trigger.

"A British officer hadn't paid his wigmaker's bill."

Popular myth holds that the crisis started because a British officer refused to pay a wigmaker. In fact, Captain John Goldfinch had settled his bill the day before — but his apprentice, Edward Garrick, was apparently unaware, and his accusation started the fateful chain of events.

"Captain Preston ordered his men to fire."

Many believed Preston gave the order. Revere's engraving even shows him raising his hand in command. The trial decided he could not have done so — he was standing in front of the guns, between his men and the crowd. He was acquitted.

"It was an organized massacre of innocents."

An alternative view holds the incident was not really a massacre but a riot in which only five people died. Organizers like Samuel Adams and William Molineux had been deliberately stirring anti-British sentiment. The soldiers were severely provoked — a fact acknowledged even by dying victim Patrick Carr.

"Paul Revere was present that night."

It is not certain that Paul Revere was actually present during the fatal incident, even though his engraved depiction of the event was used as evidence in the trial to establish the positions of the bodies. His account may have been secondhand.

The British Perspective

Hardly a Massacre

Since the British troops arrived in 1768, life for soldiers in Boston was not much better than for the citizens they were sent to police. The redcoats were severely mistreated by their own commanders — subject to harsh physical punishments for minor violations. Their pay was miserable, and they were charged for food, supplies, and even their own uniforms. Many had to seek outside work to survive, which was nearly impossible in a city so hostile to their presence.

It is well known that agitators Samuel Adams and William Molineux were working to stir up anti-British sentiments. On March 5, 1770, at approximately 9:00 PM, an angry crowd approached sentry Hugh White outside the Customs House. When a young man began insulting White and his commander, White struck the youth with his musket. From there, the situation rapidly escalated beyond anyone's control.

The Site

Where It Happened

Unlike the Boston Tea Party, whose exact location is still disputed, the site of the Boston Massacre is well established. It occurred at the intersection of Devonshire and State Streets in downtown Boston — directly in front of the Old State House (then the Customs House).

Today, a circle of cobblestones commemorates the Boston Massacre at this exact location. The site is part of Boston's Freedom Trail, one of the most historically significant urban walking routes in the United States.

A memorial to the victims is also located in the Granary Burying Ground on Tremont Street, where all five victims are buried. The annual reenactment of the Massacre takes place every March 5th at the intersection of State and Devonshire streets — organized by the Boston Historical Society and following the historic facts as closely as possible.

State & Devonshire Streets
Boston, Massachusetts 02109
The site of the Boston Massacre in front of the Old State House, Boston

A circle of cobblestones marks the spot in front of the Old State House.

Lesser-Known History

Facts You May Not Know

Beyond the standard account, the Boston Massacre is full of surprising details that rarely appear in textbooks.

  1. 1
    It all started from a wig. The Massacre began when a young wigmaker's apprentice named Edward Gerrish called out to British Captain Lieutenant John Goldfinch that he had not paid his master's bill. Goldfinch had in fact settled the bill the previous day — but the accusation ignited the chain of events.
  2. 2
    Another fatal incident occurred days before. On February 22, 1770, Christopher Seider was shot dead in a fight between a mob and British loyalists. He is rarely mentioned alongside the five victims of March 5, but his death inflamed passions and set the stage for what followed.
  3. 3
    Preston stood in front of the guns. Many believed Captain Preston gave the order to fire. Revere's engraving shows him raising his hand in command. But the trial established that Preston was standing between his men and the crowd — physically in front of the muskets — making it virtually impossible for him to have ordered the volley.
  4. 4
    The defense invoked a medieval law. The two soldiers convicted of manslaughter used the "Benefit of Clergy" defense — a medieval relic that reduced the charge from murder to manslaughter simply by proving the accused could read from the Bible. They escaped execution but were branded with the letter "M" on their thumbs to prevent using the defense again.
  5. 5
    Revere may not have been there. It is not certain that Paul Revere was present during the fatal incident, even though his engraved depiction of the event was used as evidence in the trial to establish the locations of the bodies. His account may have been based entirely on other witnesses.
  6. 6
    There were originally twelve soldiers arrested. Originally twelve British soldiers and Captain Preston were arrested, but only eight were finally tried in November 1770. The other four were suspected of shooting into the crowd from a window of the Customs House but were never brought to trial.
  7. 7
    Paul Revere made a second, unknown engraving. Revere made not one but two depictions of the Boston Massacre. The second — a schematic diagram made in pen and ink on paper — was far more historically accurate than the famous propaganda engraving. It was submitted as evidence at trial to show the positions of the British regulars and the colonists killed during the incident. This diagram remains virtually unknown to the public.

Academic Resources

Student Essays

These essays were written by students of various academic levels. They may contain inaccuracies and should not be used as reference material without independent verification.
Events Leading to "The Boston Massacre"
A patriotic and emotional description of the events leading to the famous protest. Focuses on hostile acts of oppression by King George III and hardships imposed on American colonies. The essay concludes that the conflict between Bostonians and British regulars was well justified.
Patriot Perspective
Boston Massacre Trials
A more advanced essay examining not the Massacre itself but the trial that followed. Sets the stage with a summary of the tragic event, then analyzes the evidence presented. The author concludes that all British regulars should have been found not guilty.
Legal Analysis
Boston Massacre — by Kecia Butlinm, Grade 5
Interestingly, this young author is sympathetic to the soldier and takes to heart the fact that British soldiers were called offensive names by the rioting youth. Though some facts are speculative, it provides an easy-to-understand account of the famous events.
Young Scholars · Grade 5
What Made the Boston Massacre a Massacre
An analysis of why this relatively small violent incident was labeled a "massacre" when only five people died. Examines the role of propaganda, political framing, and the deliberate manipulation of the narrative by Patriot leaders to maximize its political impact.
Historical Analysis
Boston Massacre — the First Battle of the Revolutionary War
Argues for a direct causal connection between the March 5 killings and the outbreak of the Revolutionary War five years later. Examines how the event transformed colonial public opinion and strengthened the hand of radical Patriot leaders like Samuel Adams.
Revisionist History
Boston Massacre — by Jim Champagne
A balanced examination of the Boston Massacre that weighs colonial grievances against the difficult position of British soldiers stationed in a hostile city. Draws on primary source depositions and trial records to reconstruct the events of March 5, 1770.
Primary Sources
Bibliography

Avi. The Fifth of March: A Story of the Boston Massacre. New York: Scholastic, 1993.

Annual Event

Reenactment Video

The reenactment of the Boston Massacre is an annual event organized in Boston on the anniversary of the historic confrontation — March 5th. The reenactment closely follows the historic facts, organized by the Boston Historical Society.

The event takes place on the exact site of the Massacre at the intersection of State and Devonshire Streets in downtown Boston, where a circle of cobblestones marks the spot in front of the Old State House.

The annual reenactment draws historians, students, and tourists from across the country, keeping the memory of those five colonists alive more than 250 years after their deaths.

Watch the Reenactment Video
Annual Reenactment — March 5th, Boston

Recent Research

Recent Articles

The Unknown Diagram by Paul Revere

Paul Revere made not one but two depictions of the Boston Massacre. The second — a schematic diagram submitted as evidence at trial — remains virtually unknown to the public. Read about this forgotten piece of American history.

Private Montgomery Was the First to Fire

Private Hugh Montgomery was the first British soldier to fire in the Boston Massacre. He was identified by many witnesses as the man who killed Crispus Attucks — and many believed it was Montgomery, not Preston, who shouted "Damn you, fire!"

John Goldfinch & the Unpaid Bill

One of the most well-known facts about the Boston Massacre is also one of the most misunderstood — the story of the wigmaker's bill that supposedly started it all, and why the common version of the story gets the facts exactly wrong.

About This Website

Boston Massacre Historical Society

The Boston Massacre Historical Society welcomes you to its website — a digital gateway to the famous event. BMHS allows you to experience the rich and complex history of the Boston Massacre through innovative online features and content.

The website is created and maintained by the Boston Massacre Historical Society, Boston, MA. We are dedicated to the preservation and education of one of the most pivotal moments in American colonial history — the killing of five colonists on March 5, 1770, that helped set the American Revolution in motion.

For questions or suggestions, please visit our original website at bostonmassacre.net/contact.

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