Daniel Malcolm
Daniel Malcolm | |
|---|---|
| Born | Daniel Malcolm c. 1725 |
| Died | October 23, 1769 (aged 44) |
| Burial place | Copp's Hill Burying Ground, Boston |
| Espionage activity | |
| Allegiance | United States |
Captain Daniel Malcolm[1] (c. 1725 – October 23, 1769) was an American merchant, sea captain, and smuggler.[2] Malcolm was known for resisting the British authorities in the years leading up to the American Revolutionary War.[3][4] He was the brother of John Malcolm, a minor British customs officer who was violently tarred and feathered by a Boston mob.[5]
When the Townshend Acts were passed, Malcolm instigated a boycott on British imports. He led a group of Boston merchants to stop importing products for a year in 1769.[6] He was particularly noted for smuggling sixty casks of wine without paying any dues.[7] When British customs men showed up to confiscate the contraband stowed in his cellar, he refused. Malcolm was able to muster four hundred men and boys to block British reinforcements.[2] This episode is said to have contributed to the Liberty Affair involving John Hancock.[8][9] Malcolm publicized the illegal seizure of a vessel owned by Hancock, who was also a known smuggler.[10] It is said that he took risk in providing this eye witness account, which was published in the Boston Chronicle's January 9, 1769, issue.[10] The Liberty Affair led to a riot that was one of the main factors in the British government's decision to send troops to Boston, a move that would culminate in the Boston Massacre on March 5, 1770.[11]
Malcolm died on October 23, 1769, and was buried in Boston's Copp's Hill Burying Ground.[7] He is said to have asked to be buried in the location, ten feet deep "safe from British bullets".[7] His body was left alone but his tombstone was singled out for target practice by the Red Coats.[12]
References
[edit]- ^ Name spelled "Malcom" on gravestone.
- ^ a b Anderson, Fred (2001). Crucible of War: The Seven Years' War and the Fate of Empire in British North America, 1754-1766. New York: Vintage Books. p. 717. ISBN 0-375-40642-5.
- ^ "Daniel Malcolm". Findagrave.com. Retrieved February 22, 2017.
- ^ "This Old Pew: #4 And #25 – Captain Daniel Malcolm, Merchant And Enemy To Oppression". Old North Church. Archived from the original on February 23, 2017. Retrieved February 22, 2017.
- ^ Jensen, Merrill (2004). The Founding of a Nation: A History of the American Revolution, 1763-1776. Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing. p. 2. ISBN 978-0-87220-705-9.
- ^ Groner, Alex (2016). American Heritage History of American Business. New Word City. ISBN 978-1-61230-937-8.
- ^ a b c Marcus, Jonathan P.; Marcus, Susan Cole Kelly, Jon (July 5, 2003). Our Boston. MBI Publishing Company LLC. ISBN 978-1-61060-469-7.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "The Liberty Affair – John Hancock Loses a Ship and Starts a Riot". New England Historical Society. December 1, 2015. Retrieved January 7, 2022.
- ^ Stevens, Peter F. (2021). Untold Tales of the Boston Irish. Charleston, SC: Arcadia Publishing. p. 129. ISBN 978-1-4671-4707-1.
- ^ a b "Daniel Malcom Biographical Sketch". www.celebrateboston.com. Retrieved January 7, 2022.
- ^ "Liberty Affair | Encyclopedia.com". www.encyclopedia.com. Retrieved January 7, 2022.
- ^ Guides, Insight (2018). Insight Guides Explore Boston (Travel Guide eBook). Apa Publications (UK) Limited. ISBN 978-1-78919-275-9.
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