To mark the 250th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on 4 July 2026, the National Maritime Museum will unveil a special temporary display showcasing what may beone of the earliest British reports of American independence.
Opening on 15 June, this free temporary display will give visitors the opportunity to view this remarkable manuscript up close, shedding light on the speed, complexity, and impact of transatlantic communication during the American Revolution.
At the centre of the display are a letter dated 10 July 1776 and a handwritten copy of the Declaration made between 5 and 10 July 1776, sent to John Montagu, 4th Earl of Sandwich, First Lord of the Admiralty, by Vice‑Admiral Molyneux Shuldham, Commander‑in‑Chief of the North American Station. The documents are believed to be among the first written accounts of American independence to reach Britain, offering a remarkable insight into how news of the Declaration travelled across the Atlantic.
Sent to Britian only days after the Declaration was first printed in Philadelphia, the documents provide a rare British perspective on the revolutionary developments unfolding in America, news that would soon reshape global politics. Their su
rvival offers an extraordinary opportunity to explore how information was transmitted, interpreted, and acted upon during a pivotal moment in world history.
The letter dated 10 July 1776 reveals that Vice-Admiral Molyneux Shuldham had transcribed a printed copy of the ‘late Declaration of the Continental Congress’, now known as the Dunlap Broadside, shortly after it reached him while commanding the British naval blockade of New York. In the letter, Shuldham describes the Declaration as ‘perhaps the first authentick [sic] confirmation of what has been so long suspected. The establishment of Independence in America’. The first Dunlap Broadside known to have reached Britain arrived in August 1776. Shuldham’s transcription, sent to the Earl of Sandwich in mid-July, may therefore be one of the earliest reports of American independence to reach British shores.
Martin Salmon, Curator of Manuscripts at the National Maritime Museum, said: ‘It is just possible this was the very first text of the Declaration of American Independence to reach British shores. Yet it’s the accompanying letter that’s in some ways even more interesting, because it gives insight into the timing and circumstances in which the document was created. Molyneux Shuldham was relieved of command, his replacement did not arrive until 12 July 1776. It is likely that among the very last acts of his command was to ensure the intelligence of American independence being fact, was communicated home.’
Information for visitors:
Venue: Caird Library, National Maritime Museum, Greenwich
Date: Daily from 15 June
Time: 10.00 – 17.00
Admission: Free
Visitor enquiries: 020 8858 4422
Twitter: @RMGreenwich
Instagram: @royalmuseumsgreenwich
Facebook: @royalmuseumsgreenwich
