Samuel Adams

"It's in turns or not at all. We must compromise Connor however painful that may be. Try and solve all the world's problems at the same time you'll wind up solving none at all."

―Samuel Adams to Connor, 1773.

Samuel "Sam" Adams (1722 – 1803) was an American statesman, political philosopher, and a member of the Patriots' Sons of Liberty group during the American Revolution. He was also an ally of the Colonial Assassins, particularly its Kanien'kehá:ka member Ratonhnhaké:ton, during the early years of his life with the Order.

Biography

Early life

Adams was the son of the merchant Samuel Adams, Sr., and was born in Boston, Massachusetts. Adams, Jr. graduated from Harvard University, but was unable to go into business for himself and took a job in the family malthouse. At some point in Adams' life, he befriended the Assassin Achilles Davenport.

Following the Seven Years' War, Adams was elected to the Massachusetts Legislature and argued for the rights of the colonists over issues of taxation by the British Parliament. He disliked some of the more violent tactics of the Patriots, though he expressed approval of a mob that forced Boston's stamp collector to resign during protests against the stamp tax.

Adams married twice; during his second wedding to Elizabeth Wells, he was given the slave Surry as a present, which horrified him. He accepted her on the condition that she be freed, but he maintained Surry's status of indentured servitude at the Adams household for nearly fifty years.

Boston Massacre

"Over here! You're Achilles' boy. Connor, was it? I saw what happened at the Town House. A fine mess, that."

―Adams to Connor after the massacre, 1770.

Samuel introducing himself to Connor

In March 1770, Achilles asked Adams to help his apprentice Connor after he had been framed for causing the Boston Massacre. Adams taught Connor how to reduce his notoriety, waving away the boy's worries by explaining propaganda, and also introduced him to the Freemasons' tunnels beneath the city, before chartering Connor a ship back to the Davenport Homestead. He even introduced the boy to the idea of a handshake. After the massacre, Adams succeeded in campaigning for the removal of the Regulars as the city's guards, taking advantage of the propaganda that blamed the British soldiers for starting the massacre.

Boston Tea Party

"First, we make our way to Nathaniel Bradlee's house to fetch the rest of our little group. Then it's on to Griffin's Wharf, where we board the ships and dump the tea. Simple as that."

―Adams explaining his plan to Connor, 1773.

Samuel celebrating the conclusion of the Tea Party

Three years later, Connor returned to Boston to request Adams' aid in finding William Johnson, a Templar who sought to purchase the land his people lived on. At William Molineux and Stephane Chapheau's tavern, Adams suggested that the revenue Johnson was generating from smuggled tea was financing the purchase. While Connor followed his advice to destroy the tea, Adams went to a debate at the Old South Meeting House.

Upon declaring "This meeting can do no further to save the country!", Adams left the meeting house and found Connor, Molineux, and Chapheau outside. There, he explained his plan to destroy the latest tea shipment. Together with Paul Revere, they staged the Boston Tea Party, in which Adams and the others dumped the cargo of tea crates into the water, protesting against the Tea Act while depriving Johnson of his funds.

Igniting the Revolution

"Connor, allow me to introduce you to our newly appointed Commander-in-Chief, George Washington."

―Adams introducing Connor to George Washington, 1775.

Connor (center) warning Hancock (left) and Adams (right) to leave

Adams became infamous enough that he had to leave Boston for the town of Lexington in 1775. The British major John Pitcairn was ordered to arrest him and to seize Patriot weapons supplies near Boston; Connor became involved as Pitcairn was a Templar. He and Revere rode to warn citizens of Pitcairn's advance and eventually met Adams and John Hancock in Lexington. Connor informed them of his belief that Pitcairn intended to kill them, and they left before the assault on the town. When the Siege of Boston commenced, governor Thomas Gage offered to pardon any rebels who would surrender, except Adams and Hancock.

Two months later, Adams and Connor attended George Washington's induction as Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army in Philadelphia. While there, Connor nearly caused a scene with Charles Lee, who was passed up for Washington's position, before Adams restrained him and distracted the Assassin by formally introducing him to Washington.

As Washington excused himself to attend to Lee, Connor asked Adams if he had news of Pitcairn. Adams replied that Pitcairn had barricaded himself in Boston with his army, and passed Connor a letter to give to Israel Putnam to secure his aid. Though Connor also wanted to assassinate Lee, Adams said they'd have to wait for another opportunity. After finding and assassinating Pitcairn, Connor learned he had only wanted to arrest and negotiate with Adams and Hancock.

Adams (center) at the signing of the Declaration of Independence

Adams signed the Declaration of Independence the following year with Hancock and Benjamin Franklin. He also thanked Connor, who was attending, for preventing Thomas Hickey's assassination attempt on Washington.

Later life

In 1781, Adams left the Continental Congress and returned home, becoming the President of the Massachusetts Senate. In 1789, Adams was elected as Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts under John Hancock, and became Acting Governor following Hancock's death in 1793. He was elected as Governor of Massachusetts the subsequent year and served until the conclusion of his term in 1797, after which he retired from politics.

Following his death in 1803, Adams was interred at Boston's Granary Burying Ground, alongside Hancock, Paul Revere, and the victims of the Boston Massacre.

Alternate timeline

"We fight, but times are hard. We can use your assistance."

―Samuel Adams to Ratonhnhaké:ton.

In an alternate timeline where George Washington crowned himself king of the United States with an Apple of Eden, Adams led the rebellion against Washington's regime in Boston. However, the rebellion was faltering, and Adams intended to leave to rendezvous with Thomas Jefferson's rebels in New York City.

Adams meeting Ratonhnhaké:ton

After breaking out of prison, Adams' Kanien'kehá:ka ally Kanen'tó:kon introduced him to his friend Ratonhnhaké:ton, whose actions against King Washington earned him the moniker of the "man with the wolf hood." Ratonhnhaké:ton sought the city's governor, Benjamin Franklin, which Adams agreed to as it would distract the guards from the rebels as they freed some of their men.

After freeing Franklin from the Apple's control, Ratonhnhaké:ton brought him to Adams' hideout, much to his anger. Adams was bitter over how Franklin had overseen the execution of his cousin John and the burning of the Old North Church, though Ratonhnhaké:ton convinced him to spare Franklin due to the information he could provide.

Putnam killing Adams

While Franklin and Ratonhnhaké:ton worked to construct a key to breach Washington's fortress, Adams dismissed it as a fool's errand. He left the city with Kanen'tó:kon, after the latter had learned the captain stationed at Southgate Fort was sympathetic to the rebels. However, this turned out to be a ruse created by Israel Putnam to trap Adams' men. After the rebels were slaughtered, Putnam pistol-whipped Adams to death. Upon discovering this, Franklin and Ratonhnhaké:ton departed the city by sea.

Personality and traits

Samuel: "I was much the same at your age. You'll grow out of it in time."

Connor: "And if I do not? If I refuse?"

Samuel: "Then you'll likely wind up dead."

—Adams and Connor, 1770.

Adams restraining Connor from killing Charles Lee

Like Achilles, Adams was a mentor to Connor who taught him to compromise politically, having been an idealistic youth as well. He was a shrewd man who understood the power of propaganda in rallying his cause, particularly in spreading reports that the Loyalists fired first at Lexington to generate sympathy for the Patriots. Connor was uncomfortable with lying to attract followers or bribing town criers or printers to draw attention away from himself, but Adams believed an imperfect world meant imperfect solutions.

While Adams was nominally against slavery, he did little to fight hard against it nor did he force the issue as he did not want to cause division in the colonies. He opined that once the colonists were free of British tyranny, they could turn their attention to the slaves. Connor disliked the idea of people becoming equal in turns and criticized Adams for keeping Surry, but Adams dithered on the issue and changed the subject by warning against trying to solve all of society's problems simultaneously.

Behind the scenes

Samuel Adams is a historical character who first appeared in the 2012 video game Assassin's Creed III, where he was voiced by the English actor Mark Lindsay Chapman. Adams reappeared in The Betrayal, the second entry of the 2013 three-part downloadable expansion The Tyranny of King Washington, where he was voiced by the Canadian actor Julian Casey.

Trivia

• The name Samuel is of Hebrew origin and means either "name of God" or "God has heard". Adams is a common surname of English, Scottish, and Jewish origin, meaning "son, descendant of Adam" ^{[citation needed]}
• Shaun Hastings quipped that despite his role in the Revolution, the Samuel Adams brand of beer, named in honor of Adams' job as a maltser, may be the only reason most Americans have even heard of him.
• A deleted audio clip can be found in the game files of Adams reciting the concluding paragraph from his 14 October 1771 essay Candidus that was published in the Boston Gazette under the same pseudonym.

Appearances

• Assassin's Creed III (first appearance)
  • The Tyranny of King Washington: The Betrayal
• Assassin's Creed: Forsaken
• Assassin's Creed: Nexus VR (mentioned in Database entry only)

References

Template:Navbox\\