Floor Speech2026-06-02

HONORING BRIGADIER GENERAL JOHN GLOVER AND CALLING FOR THE PRESERVATION OF THE GLOVER FARMHOUSE IN SWAMPSCOTT, MASSACHUSETTS

Context

On 2026-06-02, Representative Seth Moulton (D-MA-6) delivered a floor speech titled "HONORING BRIGADIER GENERAL JOHN GLOVER AND CALLING FOR THE PRESERVATION OF THE GLOVER FARMHOUSE IN SWAMPSCOTT, MASSACHUS" in the House.

Full Text

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 93 (Tuesday, June 2, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 93 (Tuesday, June 2, 2026)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page E510] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] HONORING BRIGADIER GENERAL JOHN GLOVER AND CALLING FOR THE PRESERVATION OF THE GLOVER FARMHOUSE IN SWAMPSCOTT, MASSACHUSETTS ______ HON. SETH MOULTON of massachusetts in the house of representatives Tuesday, June 2, 2026 Mr. MOULTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the extraordinary service and enduring legacy of Brigadier General John Glover of Massachusetts, one of the indispensable military leaders of the American Revolutionary War, and to call attention to the urgent need to preserve General Glover's historic farmhouse in Swampscott, Massachusetts. Before the Revolution, John Glover was a merchant, mariner, and civic-minded citizen of Marblehead whose life reflected industry, modesty, and devotion to community. During the struggle for independence, he became one of General George Washington's most trusted and indispensable officers. Through courage, discipline, and unmatched maritime skill, General Glover helped secure the survival of the Continental Army and thereby the cause of American liberty itself. General Glover commanded the famed Marblehead Regiment, often known as the ``Marblehead Mariners,'' a force composed largely of fishermen, sailors, and tradesmen drawn from the port community of Marblehead. At a time when prejudice and rigid social divisions characterized much of colonial society, Glover organized and led a regiment in which men of differing racial, ethnic, and economic backgrounds served together in a common cause. Contemporary accounts reflect that African Americans and indigenous Americans served alongside men of European ancestry within his command. Glover valued seamanship, discipline, courage, and technical competence above social standing or background, establishing a model of unity in service that was far ahead of its time. General Glover's military achievements altered the course of the Revolutionary War. Following the disastrous Battle of Long Island in August 1776, it was Glover and his Marblehead Mariners whose skill and discipline enabled General Washington and the Continental Army to escape across the East River under cover of darkness, preserving the American cause at one of its gravest moments. Just months later, on Christmas night of 1776, Glover and his regiment again changed history by ferrying Washington's forces across the ice-filled Delaware River, enabling the successful surprise attack at Trenton that revived the hopes of the Revolution. Glover's service extended far beyond these celebrated moments. He played a critical role in the Saratoga campaign, served with distinction at Rhode Island and Valley Forge, and supervised the construction of strategic fortifications in New York at General Washington's direction. Equally significant was Glover's pioneering integration of maritime and land operations. His coordination of troop movement, logistics, navigation, amphibious maneuver, and naval support anticipated the modern doctrine of joint military operations employed by the Armed Forces of the United States today. General Glover's contributions to American naval development were profound. In 1775, he outfitted vessels for privateering against British shipping, and General Washington chartered Glover's schooner Hannah, which many historians regard as the first armed vessel of what became the Continental Navy. Through his strategic understanding of waterways and amphibious warfare, Glover established principles that would later become foundational to American naval and Marine Corps operations. General Glover also demonstrated devotion to the welfare of his community before and during the Revolution. In the years preceding independence, he and his brother helped establish an inoculation hospital on what is now Children's Island to combat the spread of smallpox and protect the people of their region. Despite these extraordinary contributions to the founding of the United States, the farmhouse to which General Glover retired after his service now faces the danger of demolition. This historic structure stands not merely as a building, but as a tangible connection to one of the architects of American independence and to the ideals of unity, courage, and innovation that shaped our Nation. The preservation of General Glover's farmhouse would honor not only one man, but also the diverse regiment he led and the enduring American principle that achievement and patriotism transcend race, class, and creed. Future generations deserve the opportunity to learn from this legacy and to understand how leadership, sacrifice, and cooperation helped secure the liberties we cherish today. Accordingly, I urge all interested parties, preservation organizations, public officials, and citizens to work together to preserve the Glover farmhouse as a permanent historic memorial to Brigadier General John Glover and the Marblehead Mariners. The legacy of John Glover is inseparable from the legacy of the United States itself, and it is incumbent upon us to ensure that this chapter of American history is neither forgotten nor destroyed, especially this year. ____________________

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HONORING BRIGADIER GENERAL JOHN GLOVER AND CALLING FOR THE PRESERVATION OF THE GLOVER FARMHOUSE IN SWAMPSCOTT, MASSACHUSETTS Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 93 (Tuesday, June 2, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 93 (Tuesday, June 2, 2026)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page E510] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] HONORING BRIGADIER GENERAL JOHN GLOVER AND CALLING FOR THE PRESERVATION OF THE GLOVER FARMHOUSE IN SWAMPSCOTT, MASSACHUSETTS ______ HON. SETH MOULTON of massachusetts in the house of representatives Tuesday, June 2, 2026 Mr. MOULTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the extraordinary service and enduring legacy of Brigadier General John Glover of Massachusetts, one of the indispensable military leaders of the American Revolutionary War, and to call attention to the urgent need to preserve General Glover's historic farmhouse in Swampscott, Massachusetts. Before the Revolution, John Glover was a merchant, mariner, and civic-minded citizen of Marblehead whose life reflected industry, modesty, and devotion to community. During the struggle for independence, he became one of General George Washington's most trusted and indispensable officers. Through courage, discipline, and unmatched maritime skill, General Glover helped secure the survival of the Continental Army and thereby the cause of American liberty itself. General Glover commanded the famed Marblehead Regiment, often known as the ``Marblehead Mariners,'' a force composed largely of fishermen, sailors, and tradesmen drawn from the port community of Marblehead. At a time when prejudice and rigid social divisions characterized much of colonial society, Glover organized and led a regiment in which men of differing racial, ethnic, and economic backgrounds served together in a common cause. Contemporary accounts reflect that African Americans and indigenous Americans served alongside men of European ancestry within his command. Glover valued seamanship, discipline, courage, and technical competence above social standing or background, establishing a model of unity in service that was far ahead of its time. General Glover's military achievements altered the course of the Revolutionary War. Following the disastrous Battle of Long Island in August 1776, it was Glover and his Marblehead Mariners whose skill and discipline enabled General Washington and the Continental Army to escape across the East River under cover of darkness, preserving the American cause at one of its gravest moments. Just months later, on Christmas night of 1776, Glover and his regiment again changed history by ferrying Washington's forces across the ice-filled Delaware River, enabling the successful surprise attack at Trenton that revived the hopes of the Revolution. Glover's service extended far beyond these celebrated moments. He played a critical role in the Saratoga campaign, served with distinction at Rhode Island and Valley Forge, and supervised the construction of strategic fortifications in New York at General Washington's direction. Equally significant was Glover's pioneering integration of maritime and land operations. His coordination of troop movement, logistics, navigation, amphibious maneuver, and naval support anticipated the modern doctrine of joint military operations employed by the Armed Forces of the United States today. General Glover's contributions to American naval development were profound. In 1775, he outfitted vessels for privateering against British shipping, and General Washington chartered Glover's schooner Hannah, which many historians regard as the first armed vessel of what became the Continental Navy. Through his strategic understanding of waterways and amphibious warfare, Glover established principles that would later become foundational to American naval and Marine Corps operations. General Glover also demonstrated devotion to the welfare of his community before and during the Revolution. In the years preceding independence, he and his brother helped establish an inoculation hospital on what is now Children's Island to combat the spread of smallpox and protect the people of their region. Despite these extraordinary contributions to the founding of the United States, the farmhouse to which General Glover retired after his service now faces the danger of demolition. This historic structure stands not merely as a building, but as a tangible connection to one of the architects of American independence and to the ideals of unity, courage, and innovation that shaped our Nation. The preservation of General Glover's farmhouse would honor not only one man, but also the diverse regiment he led and the enduring American principle that achievement and patriotism transcend race, class, and creed. Future generations deserve the opportunity to learn from this legacy and to understand how leadership, sacrifice, and cooperation helped secure the liberties we cherish today. Accordingly, I urge all interested parties, preservation organizations, public officials, and citizens to work together to preserve the Glover farmhouse as a permanent historic memorial to Brigadier General John Glover and the Marblehead Mariners. The legacy of John Glover is inseparable from the legacy of the United States itself, and it is incumbent upon us to ensure that this chapter of American history is neither forgotten nor destroyed, especially this year. ____________________