Ten Unsung Heroes of the American Revolution You Should Know

When we reflect on the American Revolution, names like George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Benjamin Franklin quickly come to mind. But behind those well-known figures stood lesser-known patriots who gave everything to secure the fragile dream of independence. They risked their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor in ways few of us today can fully appreciate.

These unsung heroes endured hunger, imprisonment, political attack, and the ever-present threat of execution for treason. Some gave their lives. While their names may have faded from the history books, their courage and contributions built the very foundation of the United States.

Today, let’s honor ten of these forgotten patriots whose sacrifice and determination helped shape the nation.

1. Nathanael Greene

Nathanael Greene was a Rhode Island Quaker with no formal military schooling who ultimately became one of George Washington’s most trusted generals. Taking command of a bad situation in the Southern theater, Greene rebuilt shattered American forces after a string of defeats and transformed them into an effective fighting force. Through a campaign of retreats and counterattacks, he wore down British forces in the Carolinas and ultimately forced Cornwallis to move toward Virginia, setting the stage for the American victory at Yorktown.

Greene’s strategic genius and willingness to fight a war of attrition saved the American cause in the South, despite operating with almost no supplies and little public support. His calm under pressure and skill in rallying militia and Continental troops make him one of the Revolution’s true giants. Greene personally guaranteed loans to finance the military campaign in the South, and later sold most of his personal property to pay off the debts. While working to rebuild his finances after the war, he died of a sunstroke in 1786. He never saw what would become of the young nation he helped secure.

2. John Laurens

John Laurens was from a wealthy South Carolina family who made their fortune as one of the largest slave trading firms in North America. Ironically, John proposed one of the most radical ideas of his era: recruiting, arming, and freeing slaves to fight for the American Revolution. Though he faced intense political opposition in South Carolina, Laurens argued that fighting for independence while preserving slavery was a moral contradiction. In his brief military career, he served as George Washington’s aide de camp and fought with great bravery at Brandywine, Monmouth, and Yorktown. Due to his fluency in French, he also carried out diplomatic missions to France to secure badly needed funds from King Louis XVI.

Laurens was tragically killed in 1782 in a minor skirmish after major fighting had largely ended, robbing the Revolution of one of its most forward-thinking patriots. He was one of the last casualties of the war. Had he lived, his voice might have advanced the cause of abolition earlier. Laurens was a man ahead of his time and deserves far greater remembrance than history has given him.

3. Sybil Ludington

At just sixteen years old, Sybil Ludington showed that heroism during the Revolution was not confined to soldiers or statesmen. In April 1777, she rode forty miles through rain and darkness to rouse scattered militia units after the British burned Danbury, Connecticut. With her father, Colonel Henry Ludington, in charge of local defenses, Sybil took up the mission to warn hundreds of men, alerting them in time to save the region from further destruction.

Sybil rode twice the distance of Paul Revere’s ride, and proved that women could act with just as much bravery and patriotism as any man. Although she is largely forgotten, Sybil’s courage reminds us of the many women whose contributions helped secure American independence, even if they weren’t on the front lines of battle.

4. Daniel Morgan

Daniel Morgan was a tough frontiersman from Virginia, and earned fame for his fierce leadership and brilliant tactical mind. Morgan commanded a group of riflemen whose marksmanship harassed the British across multiple battles. He was the mastermind behind one of the most decisive American victories at the Battle of Cowpens in 1781. His ability to blend militia and Continental troops into a coordinated fighting force was spectacular, especially against the British army.

Morgan’s triumph at Cowpens broke the momentum of British operations in the South and inspired American forces at a critical time of the war. His deep understanding of irregular warfare and use of terrain made him one of the Revolution’s best battlefield commanders. Moran later served as a U.S. Representative for Virginia.

5. Haym Salomon

Haym Salomon was a Jewish immigrant from Poland, and the primary financier to the Continental Congress. He raised desperately needed funds to pay soldiers, supply the Continental Army, and keep George Washington’s Yorktown campaign alive. Between 1781-1784, Salomon raised over $650,000 ( nearly $15 million in 2025) to support the revolution.

His efforts were indispensable, particularly because Congress lacked the power to tax and paper money could collapse in value. Salomon donated his entire fortune to the Continental Congress and several Founding Fathers. Sadly, he died nearly broke after the war. Neither the new government, nor private lenders, repaid the debt they owed to him. While few Americans know Salomon’s name, the revolution might have failed without his contributions.

6. Margaret Corbin

Margaret Corbin showed that women could fight side by side with men under terrible conditions. During the Battle of Fort Washington in 1776, she accompanied her husband to the artillery line and helped him fire his cannon. When he fell in battle, she took over his position and continued loading and firing until she was severely wounded. Due to her bravery, Congress awarded her a pension for her military service. She was the first woman in American history to receive one.

Corbin’s story is a testament to all of the women who refused to remain observers during the war. In camps and hospitals, these women shouldered risks and responsibilities across the battlefield. Sadly, most of their contributions have been forgotten. Margaret Corbin’s courage at the cannon deserves to be remembered among the Revolution’s greatest acts of bravery.

7. James Armistead Lafayette

James Armistead Lafayette was born into slavery in Virginia, but became one of the Revolution’s most valuable spies. Posing as a runaway slave, he infiltrated the British high command and passed critical intelligence back to American generals, enabling them to anticipate troop movements and supply issues. He also gave the British false information about the actions of the American forces. His intelligence work helped trap Cornwallis at Yorktown, becoming the decisive victory of the war.

After the Revolution, James petitioned Virginia’s government for his freedom, which was granted thanks to the support of the Marquis de Lafayette. James adopted his name in gratitude. His courage under constant danger are rarely taught in American classrooms, yet his espionage contributed greatly to the war effort.

8. Deborah Sampson

Deborah Sampson disguised herself as a man, and enlisted under the name Robert Shurtliff to serve in the Continental Army. Deborah fought in several skirmishes, was wounded, and tended her own injuries to avoid discovery. At one point, she even removed a musket ball from her thigh with a pen knife and a sewing needle. Her fierce determination to serve showed the strength of her convictions and her personal courage.

Her ruse was eventually discovered by a doctor. She was honorably discharged and later granted a pension for her service. Deborah Sampson’s bravery highlighted the extraordinary lengths to which ordinary people would go to defend freedom. Her story is still an inspiration today.

9. Joseph Warren

Joseph Warren was a respected physician and a political organizer. As President of the revolutionary Massachusetts Provincial Congress, he rallied Boston before the war’s first battles. Before the fighting started at Bunker Hill in 1775, Warren was commissioned as a Major General in the militia. However, he chose to serve as a private person rather than accept a command. He was determined to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the rank and file. Sadly, he was killed at Bunker Hill, becoming an example of leadership through personal sacrifice.

Warren’s death was a severe blow to the Americans, depriving them of a bold leader and respected strategist. Nonetheless, his willingness to risk everything inspired countless other patriots to join the fight. Warren’s legacy is a powerful reminder of the everyday heroism that fueled America’s independence.

10. Peter Francisco

Known as the “Virginia Giant” or “Virginia Hercules”, Peter Francisco was a Portuguese-born soldier whose feats of strength were legendary. Standing nearly six and a half feet tall, Francisco fought in some of the Revolution’s toughest battles, including Brandywine, Germantown, and Guilford Courthouse. He was renowned for wielding a massive broadsword and for lifting a 1,100 lb. cannon off the ground to save it from being captured.

Beyond his physical strength, Francisco showed extraordinary courage and resilience, surviving multiple wounds and always returning to the fight. His strength, determination, and loyalty made him a legend among his fellow soldiers. Like the others previously mentioned, his name is little known outside of small circles. Peter Francisco’s story reminds us that heroes of the revolution came from all backgrounds.

Conclusion

As we enjoy the freedoms secured by the American Revolution, it is worth pausing to remember these forgotten patriots. Their courage reminds us that liberty was not won by a single great name, but through the determined efforts of countless individuals, many of whom never had statues built in their honor.

Their stories teach us that a free society depends on ordinary people who choose to act with extraordinary bravery and principle. May we continue to learn from their example, and carry forward their spirit of devotion and courage.