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Crispus Attucks, The First Martyr of Liberty

On March 5, 1770, a single man’s death in the snow of Boston changed the course of history. Crispus Attucks — a tall, mixed-race sailor of African and Native American descent — stood at the front of an angry crowd facing British soldiers. When the muskets fired, he was the first to fall, struck by two bullets to the chest. His blood became the spark that ignited the American Revolution. In this powerful opening episode of _Unsung Patriots_, we uncover the remarkable true story of a man who escaped slavery, lived as a free sailor and whaler, and gave his life for a liberty he himself had never fully known. From his daring runaway escape in 1750 to the chaotic night of the Boston Massacre, we explore how one unsung hero helped rally the colonies toward independence.

By Zach Martin