Long before the American Revolutionary War, the British Army in North America learned from the French the importance of spruce beer for treating and preventing scurvy and keeping their soldiers “fit for service.”  John Knox, an officer in the 43rd Regiment of Foot, insisted that his troops at Louisburg (1745) be supplied with spruce beer, […]

We are all familiar with the impact of Enlightenment thinking on the politics of the American Revolutions.  Overtures or Locke and Rousseau are found in debates leading to the Declaration of Independence and the Federalist Papers debating the Constitution.  Thomas Pane forcefully renounces the ideas of hereditary rule (Common Sense) and Patrick Henry literally screams […]