Henry Knox: The Cannon King Who Won America’s Independence

This Fourth of July, we’re telling the story of one of the greatest American heroes almost nobody remembers. Before he became George Washington’s trusted general and America’s first Secretary of War, Henry Knox was an overweight Boston bookseller with no formal military training—and a completely insane idea. In the dead of winter, Knox volunteered to haul 60 tons of captured cannons more than 300 miles through snow-covered mountains, across frozen rivers, and over roads that barely existed. Most people thought it was impossible. Instead, Knox pulled off one of the greatest logistical feats in military history, delivering the artillery that forced the British to abandon Boston and gave the American Revolution its first major victory. This week, Ben is joined by Badass of the Week producer Andrew Jacobs to celebrate Independence Day with the incredible true story of the forgotten founder whose impossible mission helped create the United States. It’s an adventure packed with frozen rivers, exploding cannons, impossible odds, and one spectacular gamble that changed history forever. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices