Lord Dunmore’s proclamation and its impact on colonial America

Andrew Lawler’s A Perfect Frenzy sheds light on Lord Dunmore’s actions, the Ethiopian Regiment, and the contradictions of the American Revolution.

Close-quarters combat during the Battle of Lexington, the opening conflict of the American War of Independence on April 19, 1775. Photo by Rischgitz/Getty Images

By Hayu Andini and Adila Ghina

A Perfect Frenzy: A Royal Governor, His Black Allies, and the Crisis That Spurred the American Revolution, by Andrew Lawler

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Lord Dunmore, the last royal governor of Virginia, remains one of the most polarizing figures of the American Revolution. His tenure as governor, especially his infamous proclamation offering freedom to enslaved people who joined British forces, is a critical lens through which to examine the contradictions and complexities of colonial America. Andrew Lawler’s A Perfect Frenzy delves into Dunmore’s life and actions, challenging prevailing narratives about loyalty, liberty, and the sacrifices of the Revolutionary War.

John Murray, the Earl of Dunmore, took office in Virginia in 1771, reluctantly leaving his post in New York. For the Scottish aristocrat, Virginia was a far cry from the cosmopolitan society he enjoyed. Yet, for a brief moment, he thrived. He purchased plantations and enslaved workers, mingled with prominent figures like George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, and seemingly embraced life in colonial high society. However, as the revolutionary fervor gained momentum, Dunmore found himself at the center of a growing storm.

By 1775, Virginia’s political landscape had unraveled. Patriots ignored royal orders, courts shut down, and the General Assembly dissolved. Dunmore attempted to maintain order, moving gunpowder from the Williamsburg magazine to a British ship. This act enraged the colonists, leading to accusations of tyranny and incompetence. George Washington denounced Dunmore as “that arch traitor to the rights of humanity,” encapsulating the disdain many revolutionaries held for the royal governor.

In the chaos of 1775, Dunmore made a bold and controversial move. He issued a proclamation offering freedom to enslaved people willing to join the British military. This declaration, which formed the Ethiopian Regiment, became a symbol of hope for enslaved individuals while striking fear into the hearts of Virginia’s patriots. The regiment’s uniforms reportedly bore the phrase “Liberty for Slaves,” echoing revolutionary slogans and challenging the patriots’ own rhetoric about liberty.

Dunmore’s proclamation revealed the hypocrisy of the Revolution’s leaders, many of whom, like Jefferson and Washington, enslaved hundreds. Samuel Johnson famously remarked, “How is it that we hear the loudest yelps for liberty among the drivers of Negroes?” This paradox was laid bare as enslaved people fled to British lines, risking everything for a chance at freedom.

However, Dunmore’s efforts were fraught with challenges. The regiment’s existence threatened colonial power structures, but it also exposed the limits of British promises. Enslaved people who belonged to loyalists were exempt from the proclamation and returned to bondage. Meanwhile, the conditions aboard British ships, where many Black recruits were housed, were dire. Disease, hunger, and overcrowding turned these vessels into floating prisons.

As tensions escalated, Dunmore’s forces clashed with patriot militias. On January 1, 1776, British troops launched an assault on Norfolk, Virginia’s largest city. What followed was a tragedy of destruction. While Dunmore’s forces were responsible for some damage, the patriots, spurred by leaders like Jefferson, razed the city almost entirely. A later investigation revealed that of the 1,333 buildings destroyed, the patriots burned 1,279. Yet, for decades, blame was pinned solely on Dunmore.

Lawler’s work uncovers the buried truths of this event, shedding light on the complexities of the Revolution. The destruction of Norfolk, long attributed to royal forces, serves as a reminder of the brutal lengths both sides were willing to go to in pursuit of their goals.

A Perfect Frenzy doesn’t shy away from examining the uncomfortable realities of the Revolution. Dunmore’s story highlights the contradictions of a movement that championed liberty while denying it to so many. Enslaved individuals who sought freedom often found themselves navigating new forms of oppression, whether under British or American control.

Lawler also delves into the broader implications of Dunmore’s actions. The Ethiopian Regiment and the proclamation catalyzed the patriot cause, galvanizing resistance in ways rivaling the Boston Tea Party and Lexington and Concord. Yet, they also laid bare the moral failures of the Revolution, challenging the narrative of a purely virtuous fight for freedom.

Andrew Lawler’s A Perfect Frenzy is a compelling exploration of Lord Dunmore’s role in the American Revolution. By focusing on the complexities of Dunmore’s actions and their repercussions, Lawler challenges readers to reconsider the simplistic myths that often define this era. The story of Dunmore’s proclamation, the Ethiopian Regiment, and the burning of Norfolk forces us to confront the contradictions and hypocrisies of the Revolution.

As America approaches its 250th anniversary in 2026, Lawler’s work serves as a timely reminder of the need to critically examine our history. The fight for liberty, justice, and equality remains ongoing, and the lessons of the past can illuminate the path forward. In Dunmore’s story, we find not just a tale of conflict and contradiction but a mirror reflecting the complexities of a nation’s founding ideals.

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