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This Day in Boston History
February 5th, 1725
James Otis
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On this day - Massachusetts's
leading political voice of the 1760's, James Otis, was born in West Barnstable.
He was the early leader of colonial protest, arguing against the British-imposed
writs of assistance -- general search warrants designed to strengthen
trade laws in North America. Basing his case on English constitutional
law, Otis offered the colonists a doctrine which would serve them for
decades, "taxation without representation is tyranny."
He was elected in 1761 to the provincial legislature, and in 1766 he was
chosen speaker of the house, though this choice was refused by the royal
governor. He was the single most quoted and written about colonist of
the decade.
He would undoubtedly be among the founding fathers, had he not been clubbed
by British officer John Robinson in a tavern brawl. After this he was
rarely lucid and eventually died as he predicted earlier in life, by lightening
strike.
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From the writers of iBoston.org |
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