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Historical Documents Portrait of a black Revolutionary War sailor c.1780 |
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click image for close-upThis portrait of an unidentified Revolutionary War sailor was painted in oil by an unknown artist, circa 1780. Prior to the war, many blacks were already experienced seamen, having served in the British navy and in the colonies' state navies, as well as on merchant vessels in the North and the South. This sailor's dress uniform suggests that he served in the navy, rather than with a privateer.
Image Credit: The Newport Historical Society (P999)
Related Entries:
• Black Revolutionary seamen
• Colin Powell on blacks fighting during the Revolutionary War
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