250 and Counting: February 3, 1775

Cover art for February 3, 1775: "The Death of General Mercer at the Battle of Princeton, January 3,1777" by John Trumbull

Hugh Mercer is one of those people who was terribly important to the cause of Liberty during the American Revolution, yet his story goes untold largely because he died early in the effort.

But if Mercer hadn’t come to America because he was on the losing side of a battle in Scotland, he wouldn’t have become a doctor in Pennsylvania.

And he wouldn’t have joined up in the French and Indian War.

And if he hadn’t been wounded, then he wouldn’t have been rescued, transferred and promoted to Major.

And if he hadn’t been transferred, he wouldn’t have met George Washington.

And Washington wouldn’t have gotten the idea to invade Trenton, New Jersey at Christmastime 1776.

And Mercer wouldn’t have been killed the following month. Which is bad, but…

If Mercer hasn’t sacrificed himself so publicly, Washington’s troops wouldn’t have been inspired to re-enlist and continue the fight.

Also, the county surrounding Trenton, New Jersey would have a name other than “Mercer County,” so there’s that.

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250 and Counting: January 8, 1775

Cover art for January 8, 1775: "The defense of Baltimore, assembling of the troops, September 12, 1814" by Thomas Ruckle

It’s Cake and Candles today for Brigadier General John Harrison, born this day in 1775 in Pennsylvania.

Harrison became a local official in his home county until the War of 1812, when he enlisted and his company was sent to defend Baltimore against the British in one of the war’s biggest victories for the American side.

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250 and Counting: January 2, 1775

The Philadelphia Packet was a weekly newspaper that had only been around for about four years by the start of 1775, so tensions between the Colonies and the Crown were already in place from the first issue.

But while publisher John Dunlap generally sided with the Americans, he did feel a responsibility to present both sides of the debate. And it was on this day in 1775 that Dunlap published an anonymous letter aimed at convincing people that reconciling with Britain was a better idea than pushing back against every decision made by the Crown.

Dunlap became famous later on for something else he printed…listen in and find out what it was.

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