T5614-Melt Tyranny. Forge Liberty - Oliver Wolcott

“Melt Tyranny. Forge Liberty.”
At 49 years old, Oliver Wolcott of Connecticut brought both sword and pen to America’s struggle for independence. A seasoned soldier and principled judge, he declared in 1776 that separation from Britain was not just likely—it was unavoidable. Though illness kept him from signing the Declaration on July 4th, he stood with General Washington in New York just five days later as the words were read aloud to the troops. He then watched patriots tear down the statue of King George III. But Wolcott didn’t stop there—he carted the remnants to his own orchard, where he and his family melted the lead into over 42,000 bullets for the Continental Army. Later that year, he added his signature to the Declaration with conviction already proven. In war and in peace, including as Governor of Connecticut, Wolcott lived by this creed: if you tear down tyranny, you must build liberty. His story reminds us that freedom requires hands ready for both labor and defense.

Categories: American History