Why Famous: Crispus Attucks was the first man to be killed by British soldiers during the 1770 Boston Massacre and the 1st man to die in the American Revolution.
A former slave and merchant seaman, Attacks was of both African American and native Wampanoag descent. As such, he later became a significant figure for the abolitionist movement and the American Revolution.
1770-03-05 Boston Massacre (Incident on King Street): British soldiers kill 5 men in a crowd throwing snowballs, stones and sticks at them. African American Crispus Attucks 1st to die; later held up as early black martyr. Massacre galvanizes anti-British feelings.