How St. Patrick’s Day fueled the American Revolution in Boston in 1776
You know about the leprechauns and the Irish and the pot of gold, but did you know that St. Patrick’s Day has another historical significance in America?
St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated annually on March 17th and is traditionally a celebration of Ireland’s patron saint, who - as the legend goes - banished snakes to the sea. These days, Americans celebrate the day by wearing green and drinking beer. But there’s actually a historical significance for that day in America.
St. Patrick’s Day 1776 - a step towards American independence
On March 17, 1776, American patriots drove British troops from their shores, 11 months after the Siege of Boston, marking a major victory the patriots, and more notably George Washington.
Washington strategically fortified Dorchester Heights with cannons hauled from Fort Ticonderoga and diverted the British’s attention with an artillery attack from the north on March 2. Three days later, the British were shocked to find themselves surrounded by cannons.
Today in 1776, Continental troops fortify Dorchester Heights overlooking Boston with captured guns dragged over 300 miles from Fort Ticonderoga. The British have no choice but to evacuate the city two weeks later. pic.twitter.com/kDz7AUVQTM
— Military History Now (@MilHistNow) March 4, 2025
General William Howe, the British army’s commander in chief in America, considered abandoning Boston, but ultimately decided to launch an attack on Dorchester Heights. As Irish luck would have it, however, a storm thwarted their efforts and Howe ordered his troops to evacuate.
Washington allowed General Artemas Ward to lead the first colonial troops into Boston, emphasizing that it wasn’t just a military victory, but also Massachusetts reclaiming its capital.
The Irish, like Knox and General John Sullivan, played key roles in the Siege of Boston and the first phase of the Revolutionary War, and Washington acknowledged their pride in the victory, using “St. Patrick” as the password for the day.
This marked the first major American victory in the war for independence. The Irish influence grew in Boston, and on 1901, March 17 became a legal civic holiday called Evacuation Day, now shared with St. Patrick’s Day.
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