Boston Tea Party Participant Honored in Portland

The Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum placed a commemorative marker at the grave of Richard Hunnewell Jr.

Updated on Oct. 9, 2026 in Tea

Boston Tea Party Participant Honored in Portland

The Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum recently installed a commemorative marker at the grave of Richard Hunnewell Jr. in Portland. Hunnewell is the only identified participant of the 1773 Boston Tea Party buried within the city.

Why it matters

The ceremony highlights the ongoing efforts to identify and recognize the individuals who took part in the historic political protest. This initiative has so far successfully located gravestones for 10 individuals from Maine who participated in the event.

Richard Hunnewell Jr. was 16 years old when he participated in the Boston Tea Party and was 66 at the time of his death. He served as the sheriff of Cumberland County after moving to the region.

The players

Richard Hunnewell Jr.

He was a Boston Tea Party participant who later served as a lieutenant in the Continental Army and the sheriff of Cumberland County.

Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum

This institution is currently leading the research project to locate and honor the gravesites of individuals who participated in the 1773 protest.

The details

Hunnewell participated in the protest as a teenager, helping to smash tea chests into the mud during low tide at Boston Harbor. After the event, he served in the Continental Army during the Rhode Island campaign before eventually settling in Maine.

The Boston Tea Party protest occurred in 1773.
Richard Hunnewell Jr. enlisted in the Continental Army in February 1777.
Hunnewell moved to Penobscot, Maine in 1788.
Richard Hunnewell Jr. died in Portland on May 14, 1823.
A marker ceremony was held at Western Cemetery on October 8, 2026.

Culture Shift

This recognition is part of a broader shift toward re-examining historical figures who played a role in the founding of the United States. By marking individual graves, researchers are bridging the gap between national narratives and local heritage.

Residents of Portland can visit Western Cemetery to view the new marker honoring Hunnewell. The site provides a local connection to the broader national history of the American Revolution.

The takeaway

Understanding the individual lives of historical participants provides a clearer picture of the human effort behind national milestones. Residents interested in local history can research other Revolutionary War veterans buried in regional cemeteries to further connect with their community roots.