250 years ago tonight, Paul Revere set off on his famous midnight ride!

Already a daredevil express rider for the Sons of Liberty, Paul Revere kissed his wife good-bye and set off on a routine mission that was anything but routine. In case he was captured or unable to escape Boston, he and other Sons of Liberty arranged a signal light to be placed in the tower of Old North Church. One lantern if the British were marching by land over Boston Neck, two if they were coming by sea – taking boats across Back Bay to Cambridge. 

With two other men, Revere silently rowed across the Charles River, beneath the guns of the British man o’ war, Somerset. He arrived in Charlestown at the same time the signal lights were seen in the dark: two if by sea. It was around 11pm.

Dodging British patrols, he took off on a borrowed horse, spreading the alarm that “the Regulars are coming! Turn out your militia!” He arrived in Lexington around midnight. 

There, he met another express rider, Billy Dawes, who had also escaped Boston to spread the news. With another man, Dr. Prescott, they continued on towards Concord, leaving the Lexington Minute Men to assemble on the Green.

But they hadn’t gone far when a British patrol surprised them. Revere, in the lead, tried to escape, but was held at gunpoint. Dawes and Prescott bolted, evading the patrol and carrying on the alarm to Concord. The British were furious to realize their plans had been discovered. With Revere under arrest, they began to return to Lexington, no doubt intending to imprison Revere for treason. But the sound of gunfire in the distance startled them, and, assuming the Minute Men were on the march, the British let Paul Revere go.

Pictures from my Boston Trip:

Paul Revere’s House (built in the 1600s and was a “fixer-upper” when Paul Revere purchased it. Sadly, no photography was allowed inside.

Old North Church

The Paul Revere Capture Site