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Courtesy of the David M. Rubenstein Americana Collection
Courtesy of the David M. Rubenstein Americana Collection
The Bloody Massacre Perpetrated in King Street, Boston, on March 5th, 1770, by a Party of the 29th Regt.
Courtesy of the David M. Rubenstein Americana Collection

The Bloody Massacre Perpetrated in King Street, Boston, on March 5th, 1770, by a Party of the 29th Regt.

Artifact IDTL 2026.1.8
Object Type Temporary Loan
Date 1770
Printer (American, 1735 - 1818)
Place MadeBoston, Massachusetts, United States of America
Medium Hand-colored engraving
DimensionsFRAMED: H 19 in x W 17 1/2 in x D 3/4 in (48.3 cm x 44.5 cm x 1.9 cm)
Physical DescriptionA hand-colored engraving depicting the Boston Massacre.The print portrays a highly stylized confrontation between a line of uniform British soldiers firing into a crowd of unarmed, chaotic American colonists. Puffs of white gunpowder smoke fill the center of the composition. Several fallen colonists bleed heavily onto the cobblestones, while a small dog stands undisturbed in the lower foreground. The background realistically illustrates key architectural landmarks of Boston's King Street, including the Old State House under a deep blue sky. a bold header reading "The BLOODY MASSACRE perpetrated in King-Street BOSTON on March 5th 1770 by a party of the 29th REGT." The bottom section features three columns of printed verse, flanked by a casualty list on the lower right. Issued weeks after the event, Paul Revere’s engraving stands as a powerful piece of revolutionary propaganda. Revere altered key facts to fuel anti-British anger, depicting a coordinated military execution rather than a chaotic night riot. By inaccurately portraying unarmed colonists facing a disciplined firing line, this widely distributed print successfully unified colonial opposition and galvanized early support for American independence.
Historical NoteAs the presence of British soldiers grew in Boston—soldiers funded by the very import duties they enforced—so too did the discontent of residents. Tensions erupted on March 5, 1770, following an altercation between a local teenager and a royal sentry. Soon a crowd of 300 residents had gathered, hectoring the sentry and the eight soldiers who had come to his defense, and pelting them with objects. The soldiers shot into the crowd, killing five. The term Boston Massacre to describe the incident was made famous by this influential print, which was composed as propaganda by the anti-British silversmith and engraver Paul Revere. He correctly put the melee in front of the customs house, a symbol of economic tyranny, but added the sign “Butcher’s Hall.” In his depiction, the soldiers fired execution-style into the crowd.
Additional Details
Credit Lineon loan courtesy of the David M. Rubenstein Americana Collection
National Archives Catalog CollectionJohn F. Kennedy Library Museum Collection (National Archives Identifier 1676934)
National Archives Catalog SeriesPolitical Memorabilia (National Archives Identifier 1677287)
Use Restriction StatusRestricted - FullyUse Restriction NoteThe use of this image and document information is fully restricted. Reproduction in any manner is not allowed.
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On view