COOL DUDES I ADMIRE: SAMUEL WHITTEMORE

Samuel whittemore was an american farmer and SOLDIER born on july 27th, 1696. in 1775 when he was 78 years old, whittemore became the oldest known american combatant in the american war for independence. born in charlestown, ma, he served as a private in the third massachusetts regiment during king george’s war and the capture of the fortress of louisbourg.

on april 19th, 1775, whittemore was working his fields when he spotted a british relief brigade approaching under earl percy. BRITISH forces had been marching back to boston from the battles of lexington and concord.

whittemore retrieved his musket and ambushed the 47th british regiment from behind a stone wall, killing one red coat. drawing his dueling pistols, whittemore killed a second grenadier and mortally wounded a third. when whittemore fired his third shot, a british detachment was closely approaching him— he drew his sword and attacked oncoming slaught of brits.

bayoneted numerous times, shot in the face, and left for dead in a pool of his own blood, whittemore was found by american forces attempting to load his musket to resume the battle. they brought him to dr. cotton tufts in medford who thought he wouldn’t survive. whittemore recovered and lived 18 more years, dying at the old age of 96.

christmas day is coming up— raise your glass to guys like samuel whittemore.