At the start of the American Revolution 250 years ago, the royal governor of Virginia–Lord Dunmore–was cast as a villain by patriots. He was criticized for attacking Hampton in October 1775, blamed for burning Norfolk on January 1, 1776, and reviled for emancipating those enslaved. These events helped convince wavering Americans to demand independence from Britain. Fresh research, however, paints a radically different picture of this controversial Scottish earl, his surprising allies, and shines new light on the important role Hampton Roads played in shaping the new nation.

Join us on July 7th from 7pm 70 8pm at the Hampton History Museum to hear Andrew Lawler, who will discuss his newest book, A Perfect Frenzy: A Royal Governor, His Black Allies, and the Crisis That Spurred the American Revolution, which The New York Times calls “absorbing” and The Virginian Pilot “masterful.” A book signing will follow the program.

Andrew Lawler is a journalist covering history, archaeology and science. His articles have appeared in Archaeology, Science, The New York Times, National Geographic, Smithsonian and others. Lawler is also the author of Why Did the Chicken Cross the World? (2014); The Secret Token: Myth, Obsession, and the Search for the Lost Colony of Roanoke (2018); and Under Jerusalem: The Buried History of the World’s Most Contested City (2021).

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