Jul 9

Jul 9 An Able Youth With Certain Follies - Jonathan Williams Austin

Jonathan Williams Austin was one of John Adams’ first law clerks.

Austin was dishonorably discharged but still given the opportunity to make an important speech in Boston.

Jonathan Williams Austin

When Jonathan Williams Austin was a student in Harvard, he led a riot against some of the school’s stiff regulations.

Although he was at first expelled, eventually cooler heads prevailed and he was allowed to return for his final year of studies.

After Austin graduated from Harvard, he became a law clerk for a future President of the United States...John Adams.

Joining the Fight

The relationship with Adams hit-or-miss. Adams respected Austin’s talents but also once accused him of stealing office supplies.

When the Revolutionary War broke out, Austin decided to join the fight and was commissioned as a Major in the Massachusetts Militia.

When George Washington arrived, Adams wrote the General on Austin’s behalf, saying he was ‘a youth of great abilities’ but that he also suffered ‘certain Follies.’

Discharge

While leading men in White Plains, NY, Austin was responsible for the burning of a courthouse and several houses.

He was court martialed for this and received a reprimand, but Major General Charles Lee did not think this was enough and had him tried a second time for ‘wanton barbarous conduct.’

Austin’s defense that he was drunk did not help his case and he was dishonorably discharged.

Redeeming His Reputation

Washington was asked the following year by William Heath if Austin could be readmitted into the Continental Army, but the General said no.

The Commander-in-Chief was still under the impression that Jonathan enjoyed a strong drink too frequently and until that was resolved he could not consent.

Austin continued to have high esteem in Boston, however, and he was asked to give the 8th annual Boston Massacre memorial speech on that event's anniversary.

Unfortunately, Jonathan passed away suddenly from causes that are still debated the following year, ending his time as a Revolutionary.

If you enjoyed this article, you might like these others about young men in John Adams’ life:

Death of a President’s Son - Charles Adams’ Alcoholism

The Man Who John Adams Helped Amputate: William Barron

While there is no book about Jonathan Williams Austin, there are plenty about John Adams.

I highly recommend ‘Passionate Sage’ by Joseph J. Ellis.

If you’d like a copy you can get one through the Amazon affiliate link below (you’ll support this site, but don’t worry, Amazon pays me while your price stays the same).