Samuel Adams (1722-1803)
Born in Boston, Samuel Adams was destined to become an iconic figure in that city, and the revolution it helped spawn. His fame as a brewer notwithstanding (the family business produced malt, not beer), he served as a tax collector for much of his early career, though a lack of diligence in his duties saddled him with considerable debt. Despite or because of this, he won many friends and a certain standing in the growing debate over taxation. An able pamphleteer as well as organizer, he quickly assumed a leadership role in the independence movement. Elected to both the First and Second Continental Congress, he was a forceful presence in shaping policy. Following the war, he served as governor of Massachusetts.