A rare copy of the Declaration of Independence was discovered by the UK National Archives in the papers of a captured US ship. The document, one of only 11 known copies of the Exeter printing, was found by a volunteer who was cataloging documents for the National Archives.
Historical Significance
The Declaration of Independence is a foundational document of the United States, adopted on July 4, 1776. This copy, printed in Exeter, New Hampshire, between July 16 and 19, 1776, is a significant find, as it provides a direct link to the captain of the Dalton, a privateer ship that carried news of American independence to the world.
According to Amanda Bevan, head of the National Archives’ project to catalog the correspondence of Royal Navy captains during the American Revolution, the document was captured from the Dalton by the British Royal Navy on Christmas Eve, 1776. The ship’s captain, Thomas Fitzherbert, had been ordered by the Continental Congress to disrupt British trade and battle the Royal Navy.
Discovery and Preservation
The discovery of the document is a significant find for historians, as it provides a tangible connection to the past. The document is now being preserved and will be made available for research and public viewing. Historians in the United States are also excited about the discovery, as it sheds new light on the American Revolution and the role of privateers in the war.
Original reporting: 40/29 / KHBS (NW Arkansas) — read the source article.
