Collections Online
The Bloody Massacre perpetrated in King Street, Boston on March 5th 1770 by a party of the 29th Regiment
Image 1 of 1
To order an image, navigate to the full
display and click "request this image"
on the blue toolbar.
-
Choose an alternate description of this item written for these projects:
- Coming of the American Revolution
- Witness to America's Past
- MHS 225th Anniversary
This well-known engraving depicting the Boston Massacre was made by Paul Revere in 1770, although it is commonly believed to have been based on an engraving by Henry Pelham. Although Pelham created his image first, somehow Revere advertised and issued his own version first. The engraving expresses outrage at the actions of the British troops and to solicit support for the Patriot cause. The scene it depicts, although compelling, is historically inaccurate by depicting a line of Redcoats firing point-blank into a defenseless crowd, when in fact there was no such organized military action and the civilians were an unruly mob of sixty.