John Barry was born on March 25, 1745, in Ireland to a Catholic tenant farmer. His family was evicted from its farm by a British landlord. They moved to the coast and John fell in love with the sea. At 15-years-old, he became a cabin Read more
Joseph was born on November 21, 1760. His father was a reverend and well-to-do. Joseph was given a good education, which would later be proven in his memoirs. After Lexington and Concord, he threatened to run away and join a privateer unless they let him enlist in the militia. So, Read more
Today is the 7th anniversary of this website. I wanted to commemorate that with a favorite story of mine. Viking berserkers would open battles by launching themselves against the enemy with no regard for their lives. The term “berserker” probably got their Read more
Thomas Sumter was born on August 14, 1734 in Virginia. His father had been an indentured servant. Thomas got little formal education. He joined the militia and participated in Braddock’s defeat in the Battle of the Wilderness. After this, he spent some time in a debtor’s prison. Things picked up Read more
Haym Salomon was born on April 7, 1740. He was a Polish Jew who immigrated to New York City in 1775. He became a financial broker to merchants who were involved in trade. He immediately joined colonists who opposed British misrule. “To serve my adopted country is to serve humanity. Read more
Kazimierz Michal Wladyslaw Wiktor Pulaski (on the right below) was born to a noble family in Warsaw on March 6, 1745. He loved the military so he became a cavalryman when he grew up. He fought the Russians, but his side lost. A failed attempt to kidnap the pro-Russian Read more