The New Student's Reference Work/Warren, Joseph

Warren, Joseph, an American patriot, was born at Roxbury, Mass., June 11, 1741. He graduated at Harvard College, and began the practice of medicine at Boston. He twice delivered an address on anniversaries of the Boston Massacre. In 1774 he was president of the Massachusetts Congress, and was by it made a major-general. At the battle of Bunker Hill he appeared unattended, and, declining to take the command which was offered him, fought as a volunteer. As he was leaving the field, being one of the last to retire, his name was called by a British officer, who, commanding his men to stop firing, urged Warren to surrender. But as he turned his head at the sound of a voice, he was instantly killed by a ball striking him in the forehead, June 17, 1775. His statue at Bunker Hill was unveiled on June 17, 1857. See Life by Frothingham and that by Everett in Sparks' American Biography.