On This Day, March 17: British Evacuate Boston Amid American Revolution On March 17, 1776, the Continental Army under General George Washington compelled British forces to withdraw from Boston, marking a pivotal moment in the American Revolution. This event is commemorated annually in Boston through Evacuation Day celebrations, which often coincide with St. Patrick’s Day parades. The historic evacuation was depicted in the 1911 painting The Evacuation of Boston by William James Aylward, now part of the New York Public Library’s collection. The date also holds significance in other historical contexts. In 1762, New York City held its first St. Patrick’s Day parade, honoring the Roman Catholic feast day of St. Patrick, led by Irish soldiers in the British army. A century later, in 2002, President George W. Bush became the first sitting U.S. president to participate in the event, following the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. Elsewhere in history, March 17 has witnessed diverse events. In 1901, 71 paintings by Vincent van Gogh were exhibited in Paris, sparking global art-world attention. In 1917, Russia appeared on the brink of becoming a republic after the Romanov dynasty’s 300-year rule ended. The year 1958 saw the U.S. Navy launch Vanguard 1, the first satellite placed in Earth orbit. In 1959, the Dalai Lama fled Tibet for India, a move that reshaped regional politics. The date also marked the election of Golda Meir as Israel’s first female prime minister in 1969, following her career as a Milwaukee schoolteacher. In 1974, Arab oil-producing nations lifted a five-month embargo on U.S. petroleum, ending a period of soaring gasoline prices linked to the 1973 Middle East War.#st_patrick_day_parade #george_washington #american_revolution #new_york_public_library #victor_van_gogh
Evacuation Day 250th Anniversary Ceremony in Boston Tuesday marks the 250th anniversary of the British army’s evacuation of Boston, a pivotal moment in the American Revolution. The event will be commemorated with a special ceremony and memorial service in Boston, featuring historical reenactments and speeches from notable figures. The day’s activities begin with a memorial service at St. Augustine’s chapel in South Boston, followed by a procession to Dorchester Heights for a commemorative program. The ceremony will honor the 1776 evacuation, which marked the first major victory for George Washington’s Continental Army after an 11-month siege. The event includes a memorial mass at St. Augustine’s chapel in the morning, with the procession starting at 10:15 a.m. and concluding at the Dorchester Heights Monument for commemorative exercises at 11 a.m. Political and community leaders, including Governor Maura Healey and Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, will participate in the program. Reenacting units such as the Lexington Minute Men, the 2nd Massachusetts Regiment, and the Henry Knox Color Guard will also be present, alongside historical assets from Fort Ticonderoga and Saratoga 250. The event aims to celebrate the legacy of the American Revolution while engaging the public with living history. The full schedule includes a memorial mass at 9 a.m., a procession from St. Augustine’s Chapel to Dorchester Heights, and commemorative exercises at the Dorchester Heights Monument. The day’s events underscore the significance of Evacuation Day as a legal holiday in Suffolk County, observed on March 17, and its enduring connection to the nation’s founding.#boston #maura_healey #st_augustine_chapel #dorchester_heights #george_washington
