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George Washington

illustration of a black wood cutter.

In search of refuge during the American Revolution, this enslaved black man joined the British army

The American Revolution was a war for independence, but many enslaved black people found liberty by joining the British. New research documents the story of one South Carolina teenager who became a hero in the British army.

Book tells story ‘most famous man most of us have never heard of’

The World

Why 21st-century anti-vaxxers have nothing on their 18th-century counterparts

Health
The US Capitol building is shown under construction in 1860. President Abraham Lincoln directed that work continue through the Civil War.

Washington was once quite literally a ‘cesspool’

Books
Waleed Ghani has announced he'll run for election in his south London district. He's officially registered with the Electoral Commission as the Whig Party candidate.

A new British party borrows a famous old name for next year’s election

Global Politics
Louis-Marie, Vicomte de Noailles, in 1798. A portrait by Gilbert Stuart of Philadelphia.

How the French won the American Revolution

Global Politics

There might be no Fourth of July holiday without the French. Their help was vital to the winning of the War for Independence, and the survival of the early republic. The tragic story of one French aristocrat illustrates that relationship. And it’s not Lafayette!There might be no Fourth of July holiday without the French. Their help was vital to the winning of the War for Independence, and the survival of the early republic. The tragic story of one French aristocrat illustrates that relationship. And it’s not Lafayette!

Henry Liu and his son at Fenway Park in April 2010.

Henry Liu is a musket-carrying member of the Lexington Minute Men. He’s also Chinese American.

Lifestyle & Belief

There are some requirements to be a Lexington Minute Man. You have to be a US citizen and you have to be male. Your ancestry, though, doesn’t matter, either to other reenactors or, apparently, the crowds.

Henry Liu and his son at Fenway Park in April 2010.

Henry Liu is a musket-carrying member of the Lexington Minute Men. He’s also Chinese American.

Lifestyle & Belief

There are some requirements to be a Lexington Minute Man. You have to be a US citizen and you have to be male. Your ancestry, though, doesn’t matter, either to other reenactors or, apparently, the crowds.

New Digital Public Library of America seeks to increase accessibility to treasured works

Environment

The Digital Public Library of America is seeking to build a large collection of digital archives that otherwise might not be widely available. It went online this week.

Iranian American dismayed to learn State Department no longer wants his services

Global Politics

Amir Mohammed Estakhri has spent nearly a dozen year working with the State Department as an Iranian-language translator. But, recently, he’s learned his services are no longer needed — and he thinks it may be because he translated for Iranian officials in the U.S. as well.