At War, At Sea: The Legacy of James Forten as a Revolutionary War Veteran

In February 2023, the Museum of the American Revolution opened the acclaimed special exhibition Black Founders: The Forten Family of Philadelphia. The exhibition introduced visitors to three generations of the family of James Forten (1766-1842), a free Black Revolutionary War veteran and sailmaker, as they battled slavery and defended freedom in the early United States. Matthew Skic, curator of exhibitions at the Museum of the American Revolution, will tell the story of the research behind Black Founders by highlighting the effort to bring together objects and documents relating to James Forten’s wartime experience as a teenaged sailor aboard the American privateer vessel Royal Louis and a prisoner of war held by the British, as well as the relationships he built with living descendants of James Forten around the United States in preparation for the exhibition. Image Credit: Collection of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania.

To attend the lecture in-person at Anderson House, or to watch virtually, please register in advance.

For details see www.americanrevolutioninstitute.org/event/lecture-at-war-at-sea-the-legacy-of-james-forten-as-a-revolutionary-war-veteran/