Hugh Montgomery (British Army soldier)

On 5 March 1770, seven soldiers from the 29th Regiment of Foot, including Montgomery, were dispatched to King Street in Boston, Massachusetts, to relieve Private Hugh White. Montgomery was the first soldier to fire against a hostile crowd of colonists surrounding them in what subsequently became known as the Boston Massacre.[3] On 27 March, Montgomery was indicted for murder. He was held in prison pending trial,[4] which took place in November–December 1770, in Boston. John Adams, who would later become President of the United States, was his attorney.

Montgomery and fellow soldier Matthew Kilroy were both found guilty of manslaughter on 5 December. They returned to court nine days later and "prayed clergy" to avoid the death sentence. Instead, they were branded on the thumb, with a hot iron, the letter "M" for murder.[1] The two reportedly burst into tears before receiving the punishment.[5] Montgomery had a wife and four children staying with him in Boston.[3]