Revolutionary War soldier and spy. Mulligan was a tailor by trade, but during the Revolutionary War he was an activist and spy for the Americans. Mulligan twice saved George Washington from being captured by the British through his espionage efforts. In 1765, he joined the Sons of Liberty. In January 1770, he fought in the Battle of Golden Hill, in New York City, one of the first violent incidents leading up to the Revolutionary War. In 1773, he and his wife took in a young boarder named Alexander Hamilton, who later became a soldier in the war and an aide to General George Washington. In the summer of 1775, he helped the Sons of Liberty steal a cache of muskets from the city armory. He was among the leaders who, after hearing the Declaration of Independence, marched to Bowling Green to topple the statue of King George III. When Washington needed reliable information from within British-held New York City Hamilton recommended his friend Hercules Mulligan.∼Hercules Mulligan was an Irish American tailor and spy during the American Revolutionary War. He was a member of the Sons of Liberty. Born in Ireland to Hugh and Sarah Mulligan, Hercules Mulligan and his family emigrated to North America in 1746, settling in New York City. Mulligan attended King's College (now Columbia University) in New York City. After graduating, Mulligan worked as a clerk for his father's accounting business. He later went on to open a tailoring and haberdashery business, catering to wealthy British Crown force officers. On October 27, 1773, Mulligan, an Episcopalian, married Elizabeth Sanders at Trinity Church. Sanders was the niece of Admiral Charles Sanders of the British Royal Navy. The couple had eight children: five daughters and three sons. In 1765, Mulligan became one of the first colonists to join the Sons of Liberty, a secret society formed to protect the rights of the colonists and to fight British taxation. In 1770, he helped to mob British soldiers in the Battle of Golden Hill. He was a member of the New York Committee of Correspondence, a group that rallied opposition to the British through written communications. In August 1775, he and the Corsicans, a New York volunteer militia company, under fire from HMS Asia, captured four British cannons in the Battery. In 1776, Mulligan and the Sons of Liberty knocked down a statue of King George III in Bowling Green, then melted the lead in its center to cast bullets to use against the British. Mulligan continued to fight for liberty following the Declaration of Independence. While staying with the Mulligan family, Alexander Hamilton came to share Mulligan's views. Initially siding with the British before coming to New York, Hamilton was persuaded to change his views and joined the Sons of Liberty. As a result, Hamilton wrote an essay in 1775 in favor of independence. When George Washington spoke of his need for reliable information from within New York City in 1776, after the Continental Army was driven out, Hamilton recommended Mulligan due to his placement as tailor to British soldiers and officers. This proved to be incredibly successful, with Mulligan saving Washington's life on two occasions. The first occurred when a British officer, who requested a watch coat late one evening, told Mulligan of their plans: "before another day, we'll have the rebel general in our hands." Mulligan quickly informed Washington, who changed his plans and avoided capture.Mulligan's slave, Cato, was a Black Patriot who served as a spy together with Mulligan, and often acted the role of courier, in part through British-held territory, by exploiting his status as a slave, letting him pass on intelligence to the Continental Army without being stopped. Mulligan was buried in the Sanders tomb behind Trinity Church. When the church was enlarged, the Sanders tomb was covered. Today, there is a tombstone located in the southwest quadrant of the churchyard bearing Mulligan's name.
The Evening Post, New York, New York, March 4, 1825. "DIED. This morning, Mr. Hercules Mulligan, in the 85th year of his age." Transcription by Mary Cummins.
The Buffalo Times, Buffalo, New York, March 21, 1925. "Hercules Mulligan First Celt To Be Named for Hall of Fame. To the list of notables nominated for places among the immortals enshrined in the Hall of Fame of New York University has been added for the first time, the name of an Irishman- Hercules Mulligan. Hercules Mulligan, although he plied a tailor's scissors at No. 23 Queen Street (now Pearl Street) in this city during the Revolutionary War, was a staunch friend of the American cause. He was the man who saved George Washington from assassination or capture by the troops of Gen. Sir Henry Clinton-by exposing the plans. He was the friend and confidant of Washington and Alexander Hamilton. He was the secret agent in New York of the commander in Chief of the Patriot Army, to who he furnished important military intelligence. He was one of the leaders who destroyed "the symbol of British power and arrogance" in New York- the statue of King George on Bowling Green. He was a member of several important Revolutionary committees and on the day the British evacuated New York was host to Gen. Washington and his staff. Born in 1790, at Coleraine, County Antrim, Ireland, Hercules Mulligan died in 1825 and lies buried in the Trinity churchyard. When Benedict Arnold sold out to the British and came to New York, he denounced Hercules Mulligan as an American spy, and Mulligan spent six months in prison before he could convince the British he was innocent." Transcription by Mary Cummins.
The Evening Post, New York, New York, March 4, 1825. "DIED. This morning, Mr. Hercules Mulligan, in the 85th year of his age." Transcription by Mary Cummins.
The Buffalo Times, Buffalo, New York, March 21, 1925. "Hercules Mulligan First Celt To Be Named for Hall of Fame. To the list of notables nominated for places among the immortals enshrined in the Hall of Fame of New York University has been added for the first time, the name of an Irishman- Hercules Mulligan. Hercules Mulligan, although he plied a tailor's scissors at No. 23 Queen Street (now Pearl Street) in this city during the Revolutionary War, was a staunch friend of the American cause. He was the man who saved George Washington from assassination or capture by the troops of Gen. Sir Henry Clinton-by exposing the plans. He was the friend and confidant of Washington and Alexander Hamilton. He was the secret agent in New York of the commander in Chief of the Patriot Army, to who he furnished important military intelligence. He was one of the leaders who destroyed "the symbol of British power and arrogance" in New York- the statue of King George on Bowling Green. He was a member of several important Revolutionary committees and on the day the British evacuated New York was host to Gen. Washington and his staff. Born in 1790, at Coleraine, County Antrim, Ireland, Hercules Mulligan died in 1825 and lies buried in the Trinity churchyard. When Benedict Arnold sold out to the British and came to New York, he denounced Hercules Mulligan as an American spy, and Mulligan spent six months in prison before he could convince the British he was innocent." Transcription by Mary Cummins.
Revolutionary War soldier and spy. Mulligan was a tailor by trade, but during the Revolutionary War he was an activist and spy for the Americans. Mulligan twice saved George Washington from being captured by the British through his espionage efforts. In 1765, he joined the Sons of Liberty. In January 1770, he fought in the Battle of Golden Hill, in New York City, one of the first violent incidents leading up to the Revolutionary War. In 1773, he and his wife took in a young boarder named Alexander Hamilton, who later became a soldier in the war and an aide to General George Washington. In the summer of 1775, he helped the Sons of Liberty steal a cache of muskets from the city armory. He was among the leaders who, after hearing the Declaration of Independence, marched to Bowling Green to topple the statue of King George III. When Washington needed reliable information from within British-held New York City Hamilton recommended his friend Hercules Mulligan.∼Hercules Mulligan was an Irish American tailor and spy during the American Revolutionary War. He was a member of the Sons of Liberty. Born in Ireland to Hugh and Sarah Mulligan, Hercules Mulligan and his family emigrated to North America in 1746, settling in New York City. Mulligan attended King's College (now Columbia University) in New York City. After graduating, Mulligan worked as a clerk for his father's accounting business. He later went on to open a tailoring and haberdashery business, catering to wealthy British Crown force officers. On October 27, 1773, Mulligan, an Episcopalian, married Elizabeth Sanders at Trinity Church. Sanders was the niece of Admiral Charles Sanders of the British Royal Navy. The couple had eight children: five daughters and three sons. In 1765, Mulligan became one of the first colonists to join the Sons of Liberty, a secret society formed to protect the rights of the colonists and to fight British taxation. In 1770, he helped to mob British soldiers in the Battle of Golden Hill. He was a member of the New York Committee of Correspondence, a group that rallied opposition to the British through written communications. In August 1775, he and the Corsicans, a New York volunteer militia company, under fire from HMS Asia, captured four British cannons in the Battery. In 1776, Mulligan and the Sons of Liberty knocked down a statue of King George III in Bowling Green, then melted the lead in its center to cast bullets to use against the British. Mulligan continued to fight for liberty following the Declaration of Independence. While staying with the Mulligan family, Alexander Hamilton came to share Mulligan's views. Initially siding with the British before coming to New York, Hamilton was persuaded to change his views and joined the Sons of Liberty. As a result, Hamilton wrote an essay in 1775 in favor of independence. When George Washington spoke of his need for reliable information from within New York City in 1776, after the Continental Army was driven out, Hamilton recommended Mulligan due to his placement as tailor to British soldiers and officers. This proved to be incredibly successful, with Mulligan saving Washington's life on two occasions. The first occurred when a British officer, who requested a watch coat late one evening, told Mulligan of their plans: "before another day, we'll have the rebel general in our hands." Mulligan quickly informed Washington, who changed his plans and avoided capture.Mulligan's slave, Cato, was a Black Patriot who served as a spy together with Mulligan, and often acted the role of courier, in part through British-held territory, by exploiting his status as a slave, letting him pass on intelligence to the Continental Army without being stopped. Mulligan was buried in the Sanders tomb behind Trinity Church. When the church was enlarged, the Sanders tomb was covered. Today, there is a tombstone located in the southwest quadrant of the churchyard bearing Mulligan's name.
The Evening Post, New York, New York, March 4, 1825. "DIED. This morning, Mr. Hercules Mulligan, in the 85th year of his age." Transcription by Mary Cummins.
The Buffalo Times, Buffalo, New York, March 21, 1925. "Hercules Mulligan First Celt To Be Named for Hall of Fame. To the list of notables nominated for places among the immortals enshrined in the Hall of Fame of New York University has been added for the first time, the name of an Irishman- Hercules Mulligan. Hercules Mulligan, although he plied a tailor's scissors at No. 23 Queen Street (now Pearl Street) in this city during the Revolutionary War, was a staunch friend of the American cause. He was the man who saved George Washington from assassination or capture by the troops of Gen. Sir Henry Clinton-by exposing the plans. He was the friend and confidant of Washington and Alexander Hamilton. He was the secret agent in New York of the commander in Chief of the Patriot Army, to who he furnished important military intelligence. He was one of the leaders who destroyed "the symbol of British power and arrogance" in New York- the statue of King George on Bowling Green. He was a member of several important Revolutionary committees and on the day the British evacuated New York was host to Gen. Washington and his staff. Born in 1790, at Coleraine, County Antrim, Ireland, Hercules Mulligan died in 1825 and lies buried in the Trinity churchyard. When Benedict Arnold sold out to the British and came to New York, he denounced Hercules Mulligan as an American spy, and Mulligan spent six months in prison before he could convince the British he was innocent." Transcription by Mary Cummins.
The Evening Post, New York, New York, March 4, 1825. "DIED. This morning, Mr. Hercules Mulligan, in the 85th year of his age." Transcription by Mary Cummins.
The Buffalo Times, Buffalo, New York, March 21, 1925. "Hercules Mulligan First Celt To Be Named for Hall of Fame. To the list of notables nominated for places among the immortals enshrined in the Hall of Fame of New York University has been added for the first time, the name of an Irishman- Hercules Mulligan. Hercules Mulligan, although he plied a tailor's scissors at No. 23 Queen Street (now Pearl Street) in this city during the Revolutionary War, was a staunch friend of the American cause. He was the man who saved George Washington from assassination or capture by the troops of Gen. Sir Henry Clinton-by exposing the plans. He was the friend and confidant of Washington and Alexander Hamilton. He was the secret agent in New York of the commander in Chief of the Patriot Army, to who he furnished important military intelligence. He was one of the leaders who destroyed "the symbol of British power and arrogance" in New York- the statue of King George on Bowling Green. He was a member of several important Revolutionary committees and on the day the British evacuated New York was host to Gen. Washington and his staff. Born in 1790, at Coleraine, County Antrim, Ireland, Hercules Mulligan died in 1825 and lies buried in the Trinity churchyard. When Benedict Arnold sold out to the British and came to New York, he denounced Hercules Mulligan as an American spy, and Mulligan spent six months in prison before he could convince the British he was innocent." Transcription by Mary Cummins.
