Who was Daniel Shays?

Daniel Shays (c. 1747 - September 29, 1825) was a captain in the American Revolutionary War. He is mostly known for leading a small army of farmers in Shays' Rebellion, which was a revolt against the state government of Massachusetts from 1786-1787, and a seminal event in the history of the early United States. Many historians see the Rebellion as a major factor in the abandonment of the Articles of Confederation, the adoption of the United States Constitution, and the creation of the Federal government of the United States.

Little is known of his early life; although he was most likely born in Hopkinton, Massachusetts to Patrick Shay (spelled without the s) and Margaret Dempsey. He married Abigail Gilbert on July 18, 1772 in Brookfield, Massachusetts. In 1777, he was commissioned as a captain in the 5th Massachusetts Regiment and he participated in the battles of Bunker Hill, Ticonderoga, Saratoga and Stony Point. His service record was notable, and he was awarded a ceremonial sword by the Marquis de Lafayette at the end of the war for distinguished service.

After resigning from the army in 1780, Shays settled in Pelham, Massachusetts, where he served in several local government positions. Economic conditions in the U.S., especially Western Massachusetts, began a serious decline and, by 1786, Shays became one of several who took command of units of rebels. The uprising soon became known as the "Shays Rebellion" after an encounter between a force of about 800 farmers under Shays, and a private militia unit of roughly the same size, at Springfield on September 26, 1786. Four men were killed[1]- the first casualties of the rebellion - and many were wounded. Shays and his men were trying to prevent the Massachusetts Supreme Court from convening, fearing indictments against farmers in arrears.

By the winter of 1786-1787, there was open fighting between government forces and rebels. After several skirmishes, Shays and his men were defeated at Petersham, Massachusetts on February 2, 1787. Shays then fled to the Vermont Republic. Condemned to death in absentia on a charge of treason, Shays petitioned for amnesty in February 1788, and the petition was granted by John Hancock on June 13. Shays then relocated to New York.