James Mitchell Varnum was a singular figure in the War of Independence. As a young attorney, Varnum successfully defended Rhode Island shipping interests against incursion by British Revenue vessels in a case brought against the captain of the infamous H.M.S. Gaspee that Rhode Islanders burnt to the waterline in an act of protest in June 1772. Two years later, he joined in founding the Kentish Guard, a militia unit that contributed many officers to the American Revolution, including General Nathanael Greene. This book highlights Varnum’s military career and his later political and legal endeavors.
About the Author:
Robert A. Geake is a public historian and the author of sixteen books on Rhode Island and New England history.
