Peter Salem — The Patriot Credited With Shooting Major John Pitcairn
Peter Salem — The Patriot Credited With Shooting Major John Pitcairn
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There are no known images of Peter Salem. This is an artist's depiction of a Revolutionary War solider.
Salem Poor's experience at Bunker Hill became better known when John Trumbull included a soldier, thought to be Salem Poor, in his famous 1786 painting.
Revolutionary Soldier • Minuteman • Patriot
These two images bring together Peter Salem and the battle that made his name part of the American Revolution. The artistic portrait gives a face to a soldier for whom no known contemporary image survives, while John Trumbull’s The Battle of Bunker’s Hill places a Black soldier within one of the Revolution’s most famous scenes. Salem has long been credited with firing the shot that killed British Major John Pitcairn. Together, the images represent both the soldier and the enduring memory of his service at Breed’s Hill. His story begins with an enslaved man who entered the fight for American independence and became a Revolutionary War veteran.
Overview:
Peter Salem (ca. 1750 - 1816) was born enslaved in Framingham. He gained his freedom in 1775 so he could join the Patriot forces. Salem fought in the early battles of the American Revolution, including Lexington and Concord. He is best known for his role in the Battle of Bunker Hill, where he is widely credited with shooting British Major John Pitcairn. This was one of the first major battles of the war. Salem served for nearly five years in the Continental Army, fighting in several campaigns. After the war, he returned to civilian life, working different jobs to survive. Though his life after the war was difficult, his actions during the Revolution showed courage and skill. His story reminds us that Black soldiers played key roles from the very beginning of the nation’s fight for independence.
Quick Facts:
Born enslaved in 1750 in Framingham, Massachusetts
Gained freedom to enlist in the Continental Army
Fought at Lexington and Concord in 1775
Fought at the Battle of Bunker Hill
Credited with killing British Major John Pitcairn
Served about 4 years and 8 months in the army
Fought in New England, New York, and New Jersey
Worked as a weaver and laborer after the war
Died in 1816 in Framingham, Massachusetts
His grave stood unmarked until 1882 when the Town of Framingham erect a granite grave marker.
Other named Black patriots who fought at the Battle of Bunker Hill include, Caesar Brown, Prince Estabrook, Grant Cooper, George Middleton, Titus Coburn, Seymour Burr, and Salem Poor who was often mistaken for Peter Salem in early accounts of the battle.
Peter Salem, the Colonel American at Bunker Hill
The image comes from the 1855 edition of The Colored Patriots of the American Revolution, written by William Cooper Nell, an African American historian, journalist, and abolitionist, with an introduction by Harriet Beecher Stowe. Nell highlighted the military service of Black Americans during the Revolution, including Peter Salem, a formerly enslaved Massachusetts man who fought at the Battles of Lexington and Concord and Bunker Hill. At Bunker Hill, Salem was credited with firing the shot that mortally wounded British Major John Pitcairn. Although historians have debated exactly who fired the fatal shot, contemporary and later accounts credited Salem with the deed. He continued serving in the Continental Army and was honorably discharged in 1780
Source: William Cooper Nell, The Colored Patriots of the American Revolution, 1855. Book. Introduction by Harriet Beecher Stowe. Published by Robert F. Wallcut, Boston. Image: “Brave Colored Artillerist” and “Peter Salem, the Colored American, at Bunker Hill.”
Why This Story Matters:
Peter Salem matters because he shows that Black soldiers were active and important in the earliest moments of the American Revolution. His role at Bunker Hill challenges the idea that the fight for independence was led only by white colonists. Salem risked his life in battle and was recognized for his bravery at the time. Yet, like many Black veterans, he struggled after the war and did not receive the same support as white veterans. His story helps us understand both the contributions and the unequal treatment of Black Americans. Learning about Salem gives a more complete view of the Revolution and raises important questions about fairness, recognition, and belonging in American history.
Legacy:
Peter Salem’s legacy is one of bravery and persistence. He fought in key battles and helped shape the outcome of the American Revolution. Yet after the war, he faced hardship and was not fully rewarded for his service. His life reflects the gap between the ideals of freedom and the reality for many Black Americans at the time. Today, Salem is remembered through monuments and historical studies that honor his contributions. His story encourages us to look deeper at history and recognize the people whose efforts helped build the nation, even when they were not fully valued during their lifetime.
Discussion Questions:
Peter Salem was recognized for bravery during the war but struggled after it ended. What does this contrast show about how the country treated Black soldiers compared to white soldiers?
Although Peter Salem was a hero at the Battle of Bunker Hill, he is not the main focus in the painting of the event. What might that tell us about how art is shaped by the values and beliefs of its time—and can you think of examples today where important people are present but not shown as the main focus in images, movies, or news stories?
Peter Salem fought for freedom and helped shape the nation, yet he later struggled to survive. What can that tell us about the differences between a nation's ideals and its social reality?
Reflection Prompt:
If you could redesign the painting of the Battle of Bunker Hill, what would you change to better show Peter Salem’s role—and why would those changes matter for how people understand the event?
Sources & Further Reading:
“Peter Salem (ca. 1750–1816).” BlackPast website.
“Peter Salem.” National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. nps.gov
Nell, William Cooper. The Colored Patriots of the American Revolution. Introduction by Harriet Beecher Stowe. Boston: Robert F. Wallcut, 1855.
“Peter Salem and the Battle of Bunker Hill.” National Museum of African American History and Culture.
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