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Dr. Joseph Warren

(1741-1775)

Joseph Warren was born in Roxbury, Massachusetts. He was descended from Peter Warren, whose name appears on the town records of Boston in 1659. Joseph graduated from Harvard in 1759, and in the following year was appointed master of the Roxbury grammar school. He studied medicine with Dr. James Lloyd, and began to practice his profession in 1764.

He was married in 1764 to Miss Elizabeth Hooton, a young lady who had inherited a sizable fortune. When The Stamp-Act was passed the following year Dr. Warren published several fiery articles in the Boston Gazette. He soon began a strong friendship with Samuel Adams and came to regard him as a staunch and clear-headed ally. Shortly after the Townshend acts were passed, Dr. Warren's articles, published under the signature of A True Patriot, aroused the anger of Gov. Francis Bernard. Bernard attempted to prosecute the publishers of theGazette, for giving currency to seditious libels; but the grand jury refused to issue charges against them. ;Warren was present at every town meeting held in Boston, from the arrival of the British troops in October 1768, to their removal in March 1770, and he was one of the committee of safety appointed after The Boston Massacre.

During the next two years he was working in active co-operation with Samuel Adams. In August 1774, Adams went to attend the meeting of the Continental congress at Philadelphia and the leadership of the party in Boston was thrust upon Dr. Warren. In Sept 1774, the towns of Suffolk County met in convention near Boston. It was here that Dr. Warren read a paper drawn up by himself that has since been known as the Suffolk resolves. The resolutions, which were adopted unanimously, declared that a king who violates the chartered rights of his people forfeits their allegiance. A copy of these resolutions, which virtually placed Massachusetts in a state of rebellion, was forwarded to the Continental congress, which approved them and pledged the support of all the other colonies in case armed resistance should become inevitable.

After the meeting Dr. Warren acted as chairman of the committee of safety, charged with the duty of organizing the militia and collecting military supplies. As the 5th of March 1775, drew near, several British officers were heard to declare that any one who should dare to address the people in the Old South church on this occasion would surely lose his life. As soon as he heard of these threats, Dr. Warren solicited for himself the dangerous honor, and at the usual hour delivered a stirring oration despite the presence of 40 or more armed British soldiers there to harass him.

On Tuesday evening, April 18th, Warren observed the movements of the British troops. Dr. Warren dispatched William Dawes, by way of Roxbury, and Paul Revere, by way of Charlestown to warn Samuel Adams and John Hancock of the British advancement. Next morning, on hearing the news of the firing at Lexington, he left his patients in the care of his assistant and rode off to the scene of action. During the next six weeks he was unyielding in urging on the military preparations of the New England colonies.

On 14 June he was chosen second major general of the Massachusetts militia, Artemas Ward being first in command. On the 17th hearing that the British troops had landed at Charlestown, he rode over to Bunker Hill. It is said that both General Putnam and Colonel Prescott were ready to take orders from him, but he refused, saying that he had come as a volunteer aide to take a lesson in warfare under such well-trained officers. At the final struggle near Prescott's last stand he was attempting to rally the militia when he was struck in the head by a musket-ball and instantly killed.

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