Overview
Samuel Adams (1722-1803) was an American statesman, political philosopher, and one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. He played a significant role in the American Revolution and was a key figure in the early years of the United States.
Born in Boston, Massachusetts, Adams was the son of a wealthy brewer and businessman. He attended Harvard University, where he studied political philosophy and became interested in the idea of American independence. In 1743, he began working for his father’s brewery, but his true passion was politics.
Adams was a vocal opponent of British rule and a strong advocate for colonial rights. He helped organize protests against British taxation, including the famous Boston Tea Party in 1773, where colonists dumped tea into Boston Harbor to protest the Tea Act.
Adams was a member of the Continental Congress and helped draft the Declaration of Independence. He also served as governor of Massachusetts from 1794 to 1797.
One of Adams’s major contributions was his role in the Sons of Liberty, a secret society that advocated for colonial independence and rights. He also played a key role in organizing the Committees of Correspondence, which facilitated communication between the colonies and helped to spread revolutionary ideas.
In addition to his political activities, Adams was also a prolific writer. He wrote a number of influential essays and pamphlets, including the “Circular Letter” in 1768, which argued against British taxation without representation.
Adams died in 1803 at the age of 81. He is remembered as a passionate advocate for American independence and a key figure in the early years of the United States. His legacy lives on in the Samuel Adams beer brand, which was named in his honor.
Primary Sources
Samuel Adams. New York Digital Collections, New York Public Library. https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/collections/samuel-adams-papers#/?tab=about.
Samuel Adams and Harry Alonzo Cushing, ed. The Writings of Samuel Adams. New York and London: G. P. Putnam, 1906. https://ia800203.us.archive.org/5/items/writitngssamadam02adamrich/writitngssamadam02adamrich.pdf.
Additional online sources: https://onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu/webbin/book/lookupname?key=Adams%2C%20Samuel%2C%201722%2D1803.
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