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UK archivists find rare Declaration of Independence in papers of captured US ship
AP News • • nation
Key Points:
- Michael Scurr, a volunteer at Britain’s National Archives, discovered a rare early copy of the American Declaration of Independence while cataloging 18th-century Royal Navy documents.
- The document, known as the Exeter printing, was produced in July 1776 and is one of only 11 known original copies, and the only one identified outside the United States.
- The copy was found attached to a report on the capture of the American privateer Dalton, highlighting the naval efforts of the Continental Congress during the American Revolution.
- Historians emphasize the significance of the find as a tangible link to the past and a reminder that there are still undiscovered aspects of the American Revolution.
- The discovery coincides with the 250th anniversary of American independence, offering new insights into how the Declaration was used to inspire those fighting for the new nation.
