MBHL-01
John Jenkins Designs
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Major John Pitcairn (28th December 1722 – 17th June 1775) was a Scottish military officer. He enlisted in the Marines at the age of 23, and was stationed in North America during the French and Indian War, serving at the rank of Captain. Arriving in Boston in 1774 as part of a British occupation of the city, he fought in the 1775 battles of Lexington and Concord.
At the Battle of Bunker Hill, Major Pitcairn commanded a reserve force of about 300 Marines.
They landed at the south end of the Charlestown peninsula. When the first assaults failed, Pitcairn led his men up the hill toward the American position. Although already being wounded by two gunshots, he led his men through the rebel trenches. When he entered the trenches, he was shot four times, including the final blow, which was a wound to the head, said to have been fired by a former slave named Peter Salem.
He toppled into the arms of his son, Thomas, also a Marine officer, who cried out, "I have lost my father!" Some Marines tried to console the son, while others, overcome with emotion, openly wept. Pitcairn was carried back to Boston, where he died of his wound within hours.
He is buried at the Old North Church in Boston.
After the battle, several marines said they “had all lost a father”.