Daniel Palmer -- Newport, Rhode Island

Newport was a colonial city situation on Aquidneck island in the colony of Rhode Island. Newport was a coastal city and featured an important port which dominated much of the city's landscape. Newport, Rhode Island was also the center of the Battle of Rhode Island in August, 1778. The battle ended in a modest British victory and was one of the earliest examples of cooperation between the Americans and the French during the American War of Independence. Newport was also the hometown to William Ellery, a merchnt-turned-lawyer who served a delegate for Rhode Island in Continental Congress. Although Ellery was a signatory to the Declaration of Independence, he gain very little notoriety outside of his hometown. This exhibit explores the significance of Newport and its impact on the war as a whole through primary source documents.