Captain Thomas Preston

E14788

Captain Thomas Preston was the British Army officer who commanded the soldiers involved in the Boston Massacre, a pivotal event leading up to the American Revolution.


Statements (30)
Predicate Object
instanceOf British Army officer
historical figure
military officer
activeDuring 18th century
allegiance Great Britain
associatedPlace Province of Massachusetts Bay
associatedWith British garrison in Boston
associatedWithEvent tensions between British troops and American colonists
commanded British soldiers at the Boston Massacre
conflict American colonial unrest preceding the American Revolution
country Kingdom of Great Britain
dateOfEventCommanded 1770-03-05
facedCharge murder in connection with the Boston Massacre
historicalSignificance central figure in a key incident leading to the American Revolution
leftLocation Boston after the Boston Massacre trials
legalStatusAfterTrial found not guilty of murder
locationOfActivity Boston, Province of Massachusetts Bay
militaryBranch British Army
notableFor role in the Boston Massacre
occupation soldier
participantIn Boston Massacre
portrayedAs controversial figure in American colonial history
positionHeld captain in the British Army
roleInEvent ordered soldiers during confrontation with colonists
stoodTrialIn Boston
subjectOf historical debates about responsibility for the Boston Massacre
legal analyses of the Boston Massacre trials
trialOutcome acquitted of murder
wasDefendedBy John Adams
Josiah Quincy Jr.

Referenced by (1)
Subject (surface form when different) Predicate
Boston Massacre
hasKeyFigure

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