Colonel William Prescott: Heroic Commander of the Battle of Bunker Hill

Colonel William Prescott’s leadership at Bunker Hill exemplified American resilience, shaping the Revolutionary War’s course.

In America, before the United States was established, there were a small number of select people and events that made such an impact on the great issues of the day that they changed the course of history. One such event was colonial Boston’s battle of Bunker Hill in June 1775. And, indisputably, the most important actor in that event was Massachusetts native Colonel William Prescott.

Prescott was a humble and noble man of high integrity, a descendent of one of America’s earliest families, and an ardent patriot beloved by those who knew him best. The brave and determined stand made by Prescott and his hodgepodge of mostly inexperienced fighters, against a far more formidable British military force, demonstrated the American fighting spirit and spurred the drive for independence. Although Prescott's men twice threw back British assaults on their defenses, they were forced to retreat during a third assault. Prescott was one of the last to leave their makeshift fort, defending himself against the British bayonets with his triangular-bladed short sword. Prescott survived the famous battle and, as few others could claim, participated in a series of major events during the Revolutionary Era and the eventual establishment of the United States Constitution.

While Bunker Hill has remained a touchstone, time and subsequent events have caused Prescott’s fame gradually to fade from memory. But were it not for Prescott’s extraordinary efforts in June 1775 the drive for Liberty might well have been delayed, if not abandoned altogether. This book tells the story of Prescott’s extraordinary life in an attempt to revive the legacy and fame of this true American hero.