Lord Dunmore as Liberator
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 3495334 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Benjamin Quarles (corresponding author) |
| Year | 1958 |
| Volume | 15 |
| Issue | 4 |
| Pages | 494 |
| Publication date | 1958-10-01 |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | The William and Mary Quarterly (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0043-5597 • E-ISSN: 1933-7698 |
| Publisher | JSTOR (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.2307/2936904 |
| OpenAlex | W2324662127 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 5 |
JN American patriotic tradition the first full-fledged villain step from the wings as the Revolutionary War unfolded was John Murray, Earl of Dunmore. Like other royal governors in office as the crisis reached its pitch, the Crown's representative in Virginia would have been a marked man no matter how circumspect behavior. Dunmore, lacking in diplomatic skills, was destined furnish the colonists with a convenient hate-symbol. one act that most thoroughly defamed name was a deed which in Negro circles cast its author in the role of liberator. This was Dunmore's proclamation inviting slaves leave their masters join the royal forces. Issued as of November 7, I775, on board the William in the harbor at Norfolk, the proclamation announced that in order defeat treasonable purposes the governor was establishing martial law. Colonists who refused to resort Majesty's standard be adjudged traitors. Then came the words which destined be quoted far wide: and I do hereby further declare all indented servants, Negroes, or others, (appertaining Rebels,) free, that are able willing bear arms, they joining His Majesty's Troops, as soon as may be, for the more speedily reducing the Colony a proper sense of their duty, His Majesty's crown dignity.' Dunmore's proclamation had its expected effect. The colonists, wrote a contemporary, were struck with horror;2 the Poet of the American Revolution implored the heavens deliver the colonies from the valiant Dunmore his crew of banditti (who plunder Virginians
| Citations per year | 0.13 |
|---|---|
| Citation span | 1986 - 2017 (32) |
| Highly cited | No |