John Simpson (soldier)

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Major John Simpson (December 1, 1748 – October 28, 1825) was an American Revolutionary War soldier from Deerfield, New Hampshire. He is one of several men traditionally described as having fired the first shot on the American side at the Battle of Bunker Hill.^[1]

After the shooting in the war began at Lexington and Concord, Simpson joined a company of militiamen under Captain Henry Dearborn. The company marched to Boston and joined the siege of that town. At the Battle of Bunker Hill, Colonel John Stark instructed his men of the 1st New Hampshire Regiment to hold their fire until the British had reached a certain point. According to the story, Simpson fired early and was arrested the next day for disobeying orders, but was not punished.

Simpson eventually rose to the rank of major in the New Hampshire state troops. After the war he returned to his farm.

His birthplace is marked by a New Hampshire historical marker (#25).

[edit] Notes

1. ^ According to the 15th edition of the Encyclopedia Britannica, "Joseph Spalding of Chelmsford is said to have fired the first shot in the Battle of Bunker Hill." ("Chelmsford, Massachusetts" entry, 2005 printing, vol. 3, p. 152). According to historian Richard Ketchum, a Lieutenant [James?] Dana claimed to have fired first in order to cause the British to fire prematurely (Decisive Day: The Battle for Bunker Hill, p. 159).

[edit] References

• Smith, Chellis Vielle. "Major John Simpson: The Man Who Fired the First Shot at Bunker Hill." Granite State Magazine 2, no. 1 (July 1906): 14–19. Accessed via Google Book Search