On This Day in 1775...
Dr. Joseph Warren, born June 11, 1741, in Roxbury, Massachusetts, became a pivotal figure in the American Revolution. He graduated from Harvard College and gained medical experience under physician James Lloyd before operating a smallpox inoculation clinic. Warren emerged as a critic of British policies, writing articles against the Stamp Act and the Townshend Acts. He drafted the Suffolk Resolves, which called for colonial militias in response to the Intolerable Acts, and took over leadership roles from Samuel Adams during critical periods.
His intelligence network informed patriots about British strategies leading to the midnight rides of Paul Revere and William Dawes. Warren fought in the Battles of Lexington and Concord, where he joined local militias against British forces. His leadership during the Siege of Boston helped coordinate defenses against British troops. Warren's legacy continues to be remembered for his critical role in the fight for American independence.