Emerging Revolutionary War welcomes our newest full-time contributor and historian, Ben Powers. We asked Ben to give our readers some insight into his interest in the American Revolutionary War Era. Get to know Ben below!

1. What inspired you or “hooked” you on wanting to study, write, and learn more about the American Revolutionary Era?

I attended the Bicentennial celebration of the Battle of Lexington as a very young boy, and I was hooked from the get-go. With parades, laying of flowers at memorials, demonstrations of period soldiers, and tours of historic buildings, it was better than Christmas.

2. What is your favorite topic to read about?

I’m a Massachusetts native, so anything about the Revolutionary-era Boston piques my interest immediately.

3. Is there one person or aspect of the war you feel is overshadowed and needs more attention?

Bernardo de Gálvez and the Gulf Coast campaign deserve more attention, although Robert Buccellato & Kartik Krishnaiyer, and Joshua Provan have produced some very good recent scholarship on the Florida campaigns.     

4. Favorite battlefield or historic site of the era?

Minuteman National Historical Park and Battle Road have a special place in my heart, but my favorite historic site is the Long Room at Fraunces Tavern.

5. Favorite person from the era?

Benjamin Lincoln. He was no Henry Knox or Nathaniel Greene, but he didn’t try to be. He did his duty to the best of his ability.

6. Favorite book about the American Revolutionary War era? 

I’ve changed my mind five times trying to answer this question. I finally asked myself: if I could keep only one book on the subject from my library, I would pick George Washington’s Generals and Opponents: Their Exploits and Leadership, edited by George Athan Billias. Since that’s an anthology of essays, some might accuse me of cheating, but I stand by my choice!