Daniel Shays

Daniel Shays
"An Authentic Portrait of the Chief Insurgent" from 1878's Our First Century by Richard Miller Devens
BornAugust 1747 (1747-08)
Died (aged 78)
Resting placeUnion Cemetery, Scottsburg, New York
Occupations
  • Farmer
  • military officer
Known for
Spouse
Abigail Gilbert
(m. 1772)
Children6
Military career
AllegianceUnited States
Service/branch
Years of service
  • 1775 (militia)
  • 1775–1780 (army)
RankCaptain
Unit
Battles/wars
Signature

Daniel Shays (August 1747 – September 29, 1825) was an American soldier, revolutionary and farmer famous for allegedly leading Shays' Rebellion, a populist uprising against controversial debt collection and tax policies that took place in Massachusetts between 1786 and 1787. The actual role played by Shays in the rebellion is disputed by scholars.[1]

  1. ^ Zug, Charles U. (September 1, 2021). "Creating a Demagogue: The Political Origins of Daniel Shays's Erroneous Legacy in American Political History". American Political Thought. 10 (4): 601–628. doi:10.1086/716687. ISSN 2161-1580. S2CID 243849281.