The Battle of Bunker Hill, one of the most famous battles of the Revolutionary War, for the most part did not take place on Bunker Hill. After dark on June 16, 1775, about 1,200 colonial soldiers moved onto the Charlestown peninsula overlooking Boston (occupied by the British) and began to construct a redoubt on Breed’s Hill. When the British discovered the work party at dawn the next day, British ships in the harbor immediately opened fire. British general William Howe was given command of an assault force of 2,400 men but had to wait for a favorable tide at noon to land his troops. By then, the American position was garrisoned by 1,600 men and 6 cannons. Twice Howe’s troops, burdened by heavy packs, moved up the hill and were turned back by heavy fire. Reinforced for a third assault, Howe had his men drop their packs and ordered a bayonet attack. By that time, the patriots had run out of powder, and the British seized the hill, then rapidly assaulted Bunker Hill, as the American retreat became a rout. The British won, but at the cost of 1,054 casualties, many of them officers. Patriot losses numbered 100 dead and 267 wounded.
Daily Calendar for Tuesday, June 17, 2025
Born
- John Wesley (founder of Methodism) –
- James Weldon Johnson (poet) –
- Ralph Bellamy (actor) –
- Charles Eames (designer & architect) –
- John Hersey (novelist) –
- Barry Manilow (singer) –
- James Ludlow Elliot (astronomer who discovered the rings of Uranus) –
- Joe Piscopo (actor) –
- Greg Kinnear (actor) –
- Venus Williams (tennis player) –
Died
- Duffy Lewis (baseball player) –
- J. Carter Brown (headed the National Gallery) –
- Gloria Vanderbilt (fashion icon) –
Events
- Sir Francis Drake landed on the Pacific Coast –
- The Battle of Bunker Hill in Charlestown, Massachusetts, took place during the siege of Boston. It was the first major battle of the American Revolution. –
- Republican Party’s first national convention to nominate a presidential candidate took place in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania –
- Plow and gun combo patented –
- The French ship Isere, carrying the Statue of Liberty in 214 crates, arrived in New York City –
- Army weekly magazine Yank coined the term G.I. Joe” in a comic strip drawn by Dave Breger” –
- First U.S. mobile telephone commercial service inaugurated, St. Louis, Missouri –
- Trans-Canada Air Lines began serving quick-freeze meals –
- 15th FIFA World Cup soccer games began. For the first time in history, the event was held in the United States. –
- Following a bizarre televised highway chase, O. J. Simpson was arrested for the murders of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend Ronald Goldman –
- Double-hulled, 66-foot Polynesian voyaging canoe Hokule’a returned to Hawaii from around-the-world trip. –
Weather
- Santa Ana winds roasted fruit on the trees in California –
- Santa Barbara, California’s temperature hit 133 degrees F –
- Tornado struck Iowa College, Grinnell, Iowa –
