Meet Loyalist Lawyer, Daniel Leonard

Daniel Leonard was a successful lawyer from a prominent family in Norton and practiced law in Taunton. In the early days of protest against the policies of His Majesty’s government, he was part of the Patriot inner circle along with John Hancock and Samuel Adams. But by the “Destruction of the Tea,” he had changed sides and was a staunch defender of the government. He even debated fellow lawyer, John Adams in the newspapers under the name “Massachusettensis.” Listen as Leonard (portrayed by reenactor Michael Lepage) explains why he changed sides and what it cost him.