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's Rebellion, a populist uprising against controversial debt collection and tax policies in Massachusetts in 1786–1787. The actual role played by Daniel Shays in Shays' 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.