John Dickinson's 4 Unknown Peace Papers Surface, Revealing Last 1775 Bid to Avert Revolution
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Jun 30
John Dickinson's 4 Unknown Peace Papers Surface, Revealing Last 1775 Bid to Avert Revolution
1 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jun 30
Summary
Four newly public documents show John Dickinson made a secret 1775 push to prevent war, including a 25-page Aug. 5 letter calling it “the last Attempt” for peace.
The papers were sent to British merchant David Barclay Jr., who often relayed messages to policymakers, and included a second letter plus two draft parliamentary bills aimed at satisfying both sides.
Humphrey Barclay, 85, found the documents in late 2024 among family materials stored in his London apartment; scholars and a London antiquarian book dealer later authenticated them.
The letters had been unknown to historians and are now being unveiled in the July issue of the William and Mary Quarterly, offering a new view of a possible path away from the Revolutionary War.
A Founding Father's secret peace plan has been found. Could it have actually prevented the American Revolution?
A lost letter tried to stop the American Revolution. What was in this secret 1775 peace plan?
Unearthing the Dickinson Peace Papers: The 2026 Find That Rewrites the Narrative of America’s Path to Independence
Overview
In June 2026, the discovery and publication of the 'Dickinson Peace Papers' by The New York Times quickly became a major historical event, sparking widespread discussion among historians and the public. These newly found 1775 documents reveal John Dickinson's determined efforts to achieve a peaceful resolution with Great Britain, offering unprecedented insights into the attempts to prevent the outbreak of the Revolutionary War. This revelation is profoundly reshaping our understanding of the period leading up to the Declaration of Independence, highlighting the intense efforts for peace that were previously underestimated or unknown.