Who was the lawyer for the British soldiers in the Boston Massacre?

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2026-05-01 21:40

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Captain Thomas Preston, Corporal William Wemms, Hugh Montgomery, John Carroll, William McCauley, William Warren and Matthew Kilroy were members of the 29th Regiment of Foot (Infantry) of His Majesty's Army and were indicted for their actions in an incident in King's Street, Boston (modern State Street) on the 5th of March 1770. The charges brought against the soldiers was the murder of five colonists after a riot had occurred that started with men and boys mocking the sentry (Hugh White) at the Customs House. A young Boston lawyer by the name of John Adams was asked to represent the men at trial. Adams took the case because he had a conviction that legal counsel should always be available in a civilized society. Refusing to be swayed by mob opinion that had been whipped into a frenzy by Samuel Adams (a cousin of John), Adams defended his clients eloquently and well, emphasizing that only facts and solid evidence would carry the case. Adams had two other lawyers on his team; Josiah Quincy II and Robert Auchmuty. Paul Revere served as a forensic sketch artist and Sampson Salter Blowers investigated potential jury members. The prosecution was headed up by Robert Treat Paine. Interestingly enough; Sam Adams, John Adams, and Robert Treat Paine all served in the Continental Congress and John Adams went on to become the first Vice President and second President of the United States.

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