James Otis, Jr. (1725-1782) was a prominent lawyer and defender of colonial rights living and working in Boston. Born in a town outside of Boston, Otis was educated at Harvard and shortly after graduating he started working under a leading lawyer in Boston. He soon made a name for himself as a lawyer and went on to join in politics. One of his positions included serving as advocate general. Eventually he resigned his position due to his opposition to the Writs of Assistance. After resigning, he provided legal aid to the merchants of Boston and frequently spoke out against the Crown. He believed in the British Constitution and he was true loyalists, but he saw the Crown abusing the colonial citizens. 

In 1761, Otis famously spoke against the Writs of Assistance, which were general search warrants. The Crown gave these documents to government officials, allowing them to search for contraband goods in homes, on ships, in warehouses, etc. The warrants gave the power to the officials and little to no rights to the individual. The Writs caused tension among the colonists and the British officials. Otis represented many of the merchants of Boston in opposition to the warrants. Some people even threatened violence to the officials. Unsuccessful in overturning the Writs of Assistance, he issued a pamphlet speaking out against the Writs called The Rights of the British Colonists Asserted and Proved.

Throughout the years, Otis wrote on different issues, including the Townshend Acts. Along with Samuel Adams, the two wrote a letter to the other colonies urging action. Through his writings and support of the Boston merchants, he made enemies. Sources vary on the incident, but it is clear that Otis was involved in an incident that left him beaten. He never fully recovered from the beating and withdrew from the political sphere. Sadly, in 1782 he died instantly when struck by lightning.

By: Jessica McKenzie

Credits and Sources:

Farrell, James M. “The Child Independence is Born: James Otis and Writs of Assistance. ”University of New Hampshire Scholar’s Repository. (2014): 1-90. Accessed September 20, 2016. http://scholars.unh.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1004&context=comm_facpub

Mass Moments. “James Otis, Jr. Enrages Colonial Governor June 21, 1768.” Massachusetts Foundation for the Humanities. http://www.massmoments.org/moment.cfm?mid=181

US History.org. “The Boston Patriots.” Independence Hall Association in Philadelphia. Accessed September 20, 2016. http://www.ushistory.org/us/9c.asp