The Heist That Sparked the Revolution (Before Lexington!)

History remembers the "Shot Heard 'Round the World" in April 1775, but four months earlier, a high-stakes heist in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, set the stage for war.

In this episode of History Distilled, we uncover the story of the Raid on Fort William and Mary. Triggered by a confidential order from King George III to ban arms exports and sparked by a forgotten "midday ride" by Paul Revere, a group of patriots—led by John Langdon and John Sullivan—risked death for high treason.

Join us as we break down how 400 men stormed a British fort, faced down cannons, and utilized flat-bottomed "gundalows" to steal 97 barrels of gunpowder right from under the nose of the Royal Governor .This is the gunpowder that would later be used to defend Bunker Hill.

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• Dan