Matthew Kilroy (British Army soldier)
Encyclopedia
Private Matthew Kilroy was a soldier of the 29th Regiment of Foot who was present at the Boston Massacre
. He killed one man and was found guilty of manslaughter
.
was covered with blood.
A few days before the massacre, Kilroy had argued with Gray at Gray's Ropewalks. Kilroy had also, according to one witness, said that "he would never miss an opportunity ... to fire on the inhabitants."
On March 27, Kilroy was indicted for murder
. He was held in prison pending trial, which took place in November–December 1770, in Boston. John Adams
, who would later become President of the United States
, was his attorney.
Kilroy and Montgomery were both found guilty of manslaughter on December 5. They returned to court nine days later and "prayed clergy" to avoid the death sentence. Instead, they were branded
on the thumb, with a hot iron, the letter "M" for murder. The two reportedly burst into tears before receiving the punishment.
Kilroy was illiterate.
Boston Massacre
The Boston Massacre, called the Boston Riot by the British, was an incident on March 5, 1770, in which British Army soldiers killed five civilian men. British troops had been stationed in Boston, capital of the Province of Massachusetts Bay, since 1768 in order to protect and support...
. He killed one man and was found guilty of manslaughter
Manslaughter
Manslaughter is a legal term for the killing of a human being, in a manner considered by law as less culpable than murder. The distinction between murder and manslaughter is said to have first been made by the Ancient Athenian lawmaker Dracon in the 7th century BC.The law generally differentiates...
.
Boston Massacre
On March 5, 1770, seven British soldiers, including Kilroy, were dispatched to King Street in Boston, Massachusetts to relieve Private Hugh White. A large crowd soon gathered around them. After Private Hugh Montgomery was struck by a club, he shouted, "Damn you, fire!" Kilroy then pointed his gun at ropemaker Samuel Gray, who - depending on the source - either said, "God damn you, don't fire!" or "They dare not fire." Kilroy then fired the shot that killed Gray. The ball passed through Gray's head and "opened up a hole as big as a man's fist." Several witnesses said that, afterwards, Kilroy's bayonetBayonet
A bayonet is a knife, dagger, sword, or spike-shaped weapon designed to fit in, on, over or underneath the muzzle of a rifle, musket or similar weapon, effectively turning the gun into a spear...
was covered with blood.
A few days before the massacre, Kilroy had argued with Gray at Gray's Ropewalks. Kilroy had also, according to one witness, said that "he would never miss an opportunity ... to fire on the inhabitants."
On March 27, Kilroy was indicted for murder
Murder
Murder is the unlawful killing, with malice aforethought, of another human being, and generally this state of mind distinguishes murder from other forms of unlawful homicide...
. He was held in prison pending trial, which took place in November–December 1770, in Boston. John Adams
John Adams
John Adams was an American lawyer, statesman, diplomat and political theorist. A leading champion of independence in 1776, he was the second President of the United States...
, who would later become President of the United States
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
, was his attorney.
Kilroy and Montgomery were both found guilty of manslaughter on December 5. They returned to court nine days later and "prayed clergy" to avoid the death sentence. Instead, they were branded
Human branding
Human branding or stigmatizing is the process in which a mark, usually a symbol or ornamental pattern, is burned into the skin of a living person, with the intention that the resulting scar makes it permanent. This is performed using a hot or very cold branding iron...
on the thumb, with a hot iron, the letter "M" for murder. The two reportedly burst into tears before receiving the punishment.
Kilroy was illiterate.