born July 1?, 1730, West Brewster, Mass.
died Oct. 28, 1786, Canton, China
American patriot.
A merchant in New York City, he supported the patriots' cause in the Stamp Act riots. As a member of the radical Sons of Liberty, he headed a boycott of British goods to protest the Townshend Acts. He led the ouster of loyalist officials from New York City and seized control of the municipal government until George Washington 's troops arrived (1775). From Boston he organized privateers to prey on British ships. He died while on a trading venture in China.