Crispus Attucks


picture courtesy of the national archives NAIL database

By: Robert & Jaron

 

Crispus Attucks was born in 1723 and died on the night of March 5,1770. He became the first martyr of the American Revolution. Crispus Attucks was a former African American slave. He was killed by a British soldier named Matthew Kilroy on the night of the Boston Massacre.

 

The Boston Massacre happened on the night of March 5,1770. Attucks was the leader of a patriot mob. When he got shot by Kilroy, he died instantly. Five were killed including Attucks and six were injured. Kilroy shot Attucks by accident. Kilroy started firing into the crowd randomly and hit and killed him and five others. Kilroy started firing and the other soldiers followed.

Crispus Attucks showed the people that if you are not scared of the British you might scare them and make them retreat, or just show them that they are not scared.

Additional Links:

Another web page about Crispus Attucks

Another web page about The Boston Massacre

Go to the Gordon Russell Middle School homepage

Go to the American Revolution homepage

Bibliography:

Davis, Burke. Black Heroes Of the American Revolution. New York: Harcourt Brace and Co., 1976.

Martin, Kirby James. "Crispus Attucks." World Book Encyclopedia. 1993 Ed.