Chicken-Bone Kills General Henry Knox, hero of the American Revolution, at age 56 on October 25, 1806

Photo courtesy of the Knox Museum

Henry Knox, one of the prominent heroes of the American Revolution, died on October 25, 1806 at his home in Thomaston, ME.

A notice in the Boston Gazette read: “It is with the deepest regret, I have now to inform you, that the great and good Gen. Knox, departed this life yesterday morning. He was confined about six days. It is supposed that the cause of his death was his swallowing a sharp chicken bone which perforated his bowels, and produced a mortification. The event was very sudden, and unexpected by his physicians till a very short time before his death. It has covered us all with the deepest gloom. The funeral will be tomorrow, when every testimony of respect will be paid by all classes of people."

His funeral three days later was attended by 2,000 people who traveled there to pay their final respects.

The Wiscasset Repertory Newspaper in Maine reported, "The sorrow discovered by his neighbors and townsmen, (as well as by own family,) was proof of great estimation of his character and of their high sense of the services he had rendered his country. Three independent military corps attended and performed the funeral ceremonies with great solemnity and order. A Eulogy was pronounced by the Hon. Samuel Thatcher."

The Lewiston Sun-Journal wrote in 1973, "At the funeral there were many notable persons from far and near. His hat and sword were placed on the casket and his faithful horse was led behind. His boots had been placed in the stirrups in reverse."

Knox was buried on his Montpellier estate in Maine, close to his favorite oak tree, according to Maine Memory Network.

Knox's accomplishments as a fearless military leader and strategist are well documented. Read Knox's diary of the famous 'Noble Artillery Trail expedition from the Mass Historical Society.

Read about Knox's humble beginnings in Boston as the son of Scots-Irish immigrants from Ulster province in Ireland.

The Daughters of the American Revolution has a collection of Knox's papers and other historical material.

The Society of the Cincinnati, founded by Knox in 1783, and has an important collection of papers pertaining to the Society and to Knox himself.

The Knox Museum, located at 30 High Street Thomaston, ME 04861,is devoted to the life and military service of Knox and his important connections to Maine. It is opened seasonally between Memorial Day and Columbus Day.

Read about Boston landmarks devoted to Irish and Scots-Irish heroes of the American Revolution.

Comments

The Boston Celtics : The Story Behind Their Irish Green Theme

Bill Russell played for the Boston Celtics from 1956 to 1959 (This story was updated in March 2024) Many people wonder why the Boston Celtics wear shamrocks on their green uniforms and have a giant leprechaun smoking a cigar as their team logo. And why is the team mascot a guy named Lucky who looks like he stepped out of a box of Lucky Charms? According to the Boston Celtic’s official web site, the name came about in 1946 when owner Walter Brown started the team. He and his public relations guy, Howie McHugh, were throwing out potential nicknames, including the Whirlwinds, Unicorns and Olympics. It was Brown who had the epiphany, saying, “Wait, I’ve got it – the Celtics. The name has a great basketball tradition from the old Original Celtics in New York (1920s). And Boston is full of Irishman. We’ll put them in green uniforms and call them the Boston Celtics.” Red Auerbach , the now legendary coach of the early Celtics, then commissioned his brother Zang, a graphic d...

Boston Mayors of Irish Descent, 1885-2021

(Originally published in 2013, this post was updated in 2021) Here are the Mayors of Boston Claiming Irish Heritage: Hugh O’Brien 1885–88 Patrick Collins 1902–05 John F. Fitzgerald 1906–07, 1910–13 James M. Curley 1914–17, 1922–25, 1930–33, 1946–49 Frederick W. Mansfield 1934–37 Maurice Tobin 1938–41, 1941-44 John Kerrigan 1945 John B. Hynes 1950–59 John Collins 1960–68 Kevin H. White 1968–83 Raymond L. Flynn 1984–93 Martin J. Walsh 2014- 2021 The lineage of Boston mayors with Irish ancestry dates back to 1885, when Irish immigrant Hugh O'Brien of County Cork assumed office and became the first Irish-born mayor elected in Boston, serving four one-year terms (1885-88). O'Brien was followed by Irish-born Patrick Collins (1902-05), also of County Cork, who died in office in 1905. He was replaced by John F. Fitzgerald, who became the first American-born mayor of Irish descent, serving two terms. A noteworthy...

Visit these Public Memorials to John Boyle O'Reilly throughout Massachusetts

Born 180 years ago on June 28, 1844, John Boyle O’Reilly helped shape the history or Ireland and America in the late 19th century in powerful ways. Today, O'Reilly’s stature as a seminal figure in Irish and Irish-American history is particularly evident in his beloved birthplace of Dowth, County Meath; in Freemantle, Australia where he was imprisoned; and indeed, throughout the Irish Diaspora. O'REILLY LANDMARKS IN MASSACHUSETTS O’Reilly remains popular in Boston, New Bedford, Hull and Springfield where there is a selection of memorials and plaques, parks and city squares, library collections and Irish organizations honoring O’Reilly’s memory. In Boston, the John Boyle O’Reilly Memorial at the corner of Boylston Street and The Fens, not far from Fenway Park, was unveiled in 1896 by famed Concord sculptor Daniel French. The Memorial is part of Boston’s Irish Heritage Trail. In Charlestown, O’Reilly lived at 34 Winthrop Street, where there is a plaque in his honor. In 1988 t...

Irish Boston History & Heritage

Search This Blog