His was a politically unpopular act. The tension between Britain and the American colonies had heightened. The resentment against the crown had grown, and the mere presence of British troops only made feelings more bitter.

A small platoon of British soldiers stood sentry on King Street in Boston. Their job? To protect representatives of the crown as those representatives enforced legislation passed in Parliament. On March 5, 1770, a mob formed around one of the sentries and began to harass him with threats. Eight more soldiers soon joined him. Someone threw more than an insult, and in the ensuing tumult the soldiers fired into the crowd, killing three citizens instantly. Two more would die soon after from their wounds.

The governor promised an inquiry, and the crowd dispersed but reformed the next day. To avoid further conflict, the troops withdrew to Castle Island. Eight soldiers, one officer, and four civilians were arrested and charged with murder. During the trials that followed, the soldiers were represented by an American lawyer who secured acquittal for six of them.

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