Spies in Plain Sight: How a Botched Mission Led to Lexington and Concord

Date: Thursday, April 3rd, 7:00 – 8:15 PM

In February 1775, three British officers set out on a covert reconnaissance mission to map colonial supply routes and assess Patriot resistance. Poorly disguised as surveyors, their efforts to blend in failed spectacularly in towns like Waltham and Cambridge, where locals quickly identified them as British spies. However, their time in Framingham’s Buckminster Tavern marked a stark exception—here, they were treated as ordinary travelers, with no direct confrontation from the townspeople.

Historian Kevin Swope brings to life this fascinating story of three British spies and their failed mission that ultimately influenced British General Gage’s decision to send troops through Lexington to Concord, igniting the first battles of the Revolutionary War. Swope’s talk explores the critical role Framingham played in this episode and its connection to the broader Revolutionary War spy network, revealing how small moments of espionage shaped history.

This event is offered in partnership with historical societies and centers in Framingham, Holliston, Natick, Needham, Sherborn, and Wellesley. Check each of our websites for event announcements that connect local history with the national narrative of the American Revolution. Click here to learn more!