This Day in Georgia History
July 24, 1775
Hopkins Tarred and Feathered
In Savannah, members of the Sons of Liberty seized loyalist John Hopkins from his house and publicly tarred and feathered him, then took him on a cart through the streets of Savannah for three hours. Hopkins was not a government official but rather a local ship pilot. His offense the previous night was drinking to loyalist toast the Sons of Liberty found offensive. In addition to being tarred and feathered, Hopkins escaped hanging by drinking to the toast: “Damnation to all Tories and success to American liberty!”