Thomas Preston (Soldier)
Encyclopedia
Captain Thomas Preston was an officer of the 29th Regiment of Foot
who was present at the Boston Massacre
on March 5, 1770. He was acquitted of all charges in a trial held in Boston, Massachusetts. Future United States
President
John Adams
was his attorney. Two of his men, Hugh Montgomery
and Matthew Kilroy
, were found guilty of manslaughter
and branded on the thumb with a hot iron. After his trial, Preston retired from the army and reportedly settled in Ireland, though Adams recalled seeing him in London in the 1780s.
29th Regiment of Foot
The 29th Regiment of Foot was, from 1694 to 1881, an infantry regiment of the British Army. It now forms part of the Mercian Regiment.-Formation:...
who was present at the Boston Massacre
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...
on March 5, 1770. He was acquitted of all charges in a trial held in Boston, Massachusetts. Future United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
President
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
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...
was his attorney. Two of his men, Hugh Montgomery
Hugh Montgomery (British Army soldier)
Private Hugh Montgomery 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.-The Boston Massacre:...
and Matthew Kilroy
Matthew Kilroy (British Army soldier)
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.-Boston Massacre:...
, were 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...
and branded on the thumb with a hot iron. After his trial, Preston retired from the army and reportedly settled in Ireland, though Adams recalled seeing him in London in the 1780s.