Press
Upcoming Author Events
“1774: Attleborough’s Solemn League and Covenant” author talk Saturday, April 29, 2023, at 2:00 PM, hosted by the Attleboro Historic Preservation Society at the Oldtown First Congregational Church, 675 Old Post Road, North Attleboro, MA. The program is free, but you do need to register in advance through Eventbrite. Register here. Exclusive reprints, suitable for framing and display, of Attleboro’s Solemn League and Covenant document will be for sale. Proceeds will benefit historic preservation in the area.
“Joseph Warren and the Boston Tea Party” author talk at the Wellesley Public Library, Wakelin Room of the Main Branch, on Monday, May 8, 2023, 7:00-8:00PM. In-person and online event. Details here including registration for on-line attendance. Presented in partnership with the Wellesley Celebrations Committee and Friends of Wellesley Veterans, Inc. as part of Wellesley’s Wonderful Weekend. This event leads up to town-wide observances in late May where thousands of Wellesley residents join together to honor veterans and community service organizations. This year’s theme is “Birth of Our Nation: Celebrating the250th anniversary of the Boston Tea Party.”
Videos
 “Joseph Warren at Bunker Hill” (5:07) |
 “Why Joseph Warren Matters” (1:33) |
 “Ronald Reagan Inspired by Joseph Warren” (1:42) |
 “Atul Gawande and Harvard’s Frenk” (65:10) |
 “Terri Kelley Interview” Part I (18:42) |
 “Terri Kelley Interview” Part II (8:07) |
 “Glenn Beck TV: Dr. Joseph Warren” (7:27) |
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Reviews and Commentary
“Thank you Dr. Forman for writing the book. For this long and difficult project [you] sought to put together the details of the life of Joseph Warren, a Boston doctor and figure in the early days of the American Revolution… He was well known for a solid century and then for odd reasons became less familiar to us. But he was the one who started the [Warren] physician lineage as well as had a major impact in the American Revolution; and I think that what Dr. Forman above all wanted to do was to restore his place in the understanding of where this had started. ” – Atul Gawande, author of The Checklist Manifesto, Complications, Better; and popular New Yorker magazine columnist
“Samuel Forman’s Joseph Warren is a fascinating work of research and historical sleuthing that applies a much-needed medical expertise to the story of one of revolutionary Massachusetts’s preeminent physicians and political leaders. Thanks to Forman’s terrific new book we will never see Dr. Joseph Warren in the same way again.” – Nathaniel Philbrick, author of Bunker Hill: A City, A Siege, A Revolution; In the Heart of the Sea: Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex; Mayflower: A Story of Courage, Community, and War; and The Last Stand: Custer, Sitting Bull, and the Battle of the Little Big Horn
“Readers will be delighted with this book and its star. Certainly everyone who has read and studied the American Revolution knows all about the main founding fathers, but few know the important role that Dr. Warren took on… The book is written like fiction in many places so the reader will feel as if they know the man, his family and even something of his childhood. We see the human interest side to Dr. Warren, and not just his accomplishments in the War.
This book is well worth reading. For readers, like yours truly, who thought they knew a lot about the American Revolution and the Founding Fathers, it gives a thorough portrait of Dr. Joseph Warren and the part that he played in the history of our liberty. It will be to the reader’s advantage to read the appendices (5 in all) covering the Doctor’s account books, Artifacts and Relics Associated with Joseph Warren, the Quest for Warren’s Head, (this sounds really weird but did happen), Places Named after Joseph Warren and Attributions to Miss Mercy Scollay. These appendices read just like fiction and are truly a great addition to this book.
Quill Says: This is a story about an extremely overlooked founder who really played a huge part in the country’s fight for freedom from the English. Many historians will be anxious to read the story of Dr. Warren. This is a definite keeper in the biography/historian’s and perhaps, even the fiction reader’s library.” (Full review here.) – Mary Lignor, Feathered Quill Book Reviews
“ Dr. Samuel Forman presents this extraordinary book about Dr. Joseph Warren… His roots in history allow him to be an exemplar of the scholar physician.” – Julio Frenk, Dean of the Harvard University School of Public Health
Previous events
“The West and South during the Revolutionary Era – Adventure, Conflict, Accommodation, and Multi-Racial Foundations” Pursuit of History author talk Thursday, October 14, 2021 via Facebook live stream.
Rev250 podcast, Tuesday, July 27, 2021 at 11:00 AM. See upcoming events for July when posted at Revolution 250.org
“Dr. Joseph Warren: Physician and Founding Father of the American Revolution” at grand rounds of Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital, a Harvard Medical School teaching institution, April 14, 2021.
“War, Espionage, and Intrigue – Dr. Warren on the Eve of Revolution” at WWLL, MA, March 4, 2019, Wellesley, MA.
“Ill-Fated Frontier” at History Camp Boston 2019, March 16, 2019, Suffolk University Law School, Boston, MA.
“Speak Out! Fifth Annual Boston Massacre Anniversary Orations” Competitive audience participatory readings with prizes for best orators. March 27 2019, Old South Meeting House, Boston, MA.
“War, Espionage, and Intrigue – Dr. Warren on the Eve of Revolution” at History Camp 2018, July 7, 2018, Suffolk University Law School, Boston, MA.
Dr. Joseph Warren, marking the anniversary of his funeral observances and Perez Morton’s memorable eulogy. April 5, 2018 at 6:30 PM, King’s Chapel, Boston, MA.
“Speak Out! Fourth Annual Boston Massacre Anniversary Orations.” Commentary by Suffolk University’s Prof. Bob Allison, Bostonian Society’s Dr. Nat Scheidley, and Dr. Sam Forman. Competitive audience participatory readings with prizes for best orators. March 28, 2018 (delayed one week due to snow), Old South Meeting House, Boston, MA.
“Joseph Warren and Paul Revere” at meeting of the Massachusetts Charitable Mechanics Association. October 18, 2017, Stoneham, MA.
Participatory readings from Joseph Warren’s 1775 Boston Massacre oration. June 30, 2017, Old South Meeting House, Boston, MA.
“Third Annual Fifth of March Anniversary Orations-Speak Out!” Participatory readings from the 1772 to 1775 Boston Massacre commemorative orations. March 22, 2017, Old South Meeting House, Boston, MA.
Dedication of the new bronze statue commemorating Joseph Warren October 22, 2016, at Forest Hills Cemetery in Boston’s Roxbury, MA.
“History in Fact and Fiction: from noted biography to young adult fiction.” Author talk at Boston History Camp. Saturday, March 26, 2016. Harriet Tubman House, 566 Columbus Ave., Boston.
“The Fifth of March Anniversary Orations – Speak Out!” with Professor Bob Allison and audience participation, March 9, 2016. Old South Meeting House, 310 Washington Street, Boston, MA.
“Why fictionalize the American Revolution?” Author talk and signing for Twenty-One Heroes. Lexington Minute Men on February 18, 2016. Lexington, MA.
Keynote address at the Bunker Hill Monument Association, Wednesday, June 17, 2015, following the annual observances at the Monument. Battle of Bunker Hill Museum, Charlestown, MA
“Origins of MGH in the Revolutionary Era” at the Paul Russel Museum of Medical History and Innovation on Tuesday, June 9, 2015. Lecture. 2 North Grove Street on the Massachusetts General Hospital campus, Boston, MA.
“John Trumbull’s Portraiture in an Iconic Historical Painting of the Revolutionary Era” on Saturday, March 28, 2015. Harriet Tubman House, Boston, MA.
“Medicine, War and Romance in Revolutionary and Early Republic Era Massachusetts” March 19, 2015. Boston’s fabled Thursday Evening Club.
“The Fifth of March Anniversary Orations – Speak Out!” March 11, 2015. Old South Meeting House, Boston, MA.
“The Doctor is In” at Medfeld Public Libary, February 28, 2015. Lecture. 468 Main St., Medfield, MA.
Fraunces Tavern Museum, December 11, 2014. Lecture and signing. New York, NY.
Charlestown Historical Society, November 12, 2014. Lecture and signing. Battle of Bunker Hill Museum, Charlestown, MA.
Massachusetts Medical Society, Hampden District, November 11, 2014. Lecture and signing, Holyoke, MA.
American Revolution Series presented by the Paoli Battlefield Preservation Trust, November 10, 2014. Lecture and signing. General Warren Inne, Paoli, PA.
Massachusetts Medical Society, Barnstable District, October 22, 2014. Lecture and signing, Coonamesset Inn, Falmouth, MA.
American Revolution Round Table of Philadelphia, September 29, 2014. Lecture and signing. Fort Washington, PA.
Southern Utah Veterans Home hosting lecture, September 11, 2014. 9/11 keynote speech; book signing, St. George, Utah.
Falmouth Historical Society, part of “Massachusetts Historical Workshop,” August 14, 2014. Lecture on 18th century medicine, smallpox, and Dr. Francis Wicks, Falmouth, MA on Cape Cod.
Shirley-Eustis House, May 15, 2014. Lecture and signing. Roxbury section of Boston, MA
Massachusetts Medical Society, Bristol South District, April 9, 2014. Lecture and signing, Venus de Milo Restaurant, Swansea, MA
History Camp, March 8, 2014. Lectures: “John Singleton Copley in America – What is Real and What is Imagined in the Iconic Portraits of Patriots and Tories” and “Account Books Reveal the Darnedest Things – Accessing a Ubiquitous and Opaque Source to Reveal Untold Stories about the American Revolution.” Cambridge IBM Innovation Center, One Charles Park, Cambridge, MA. My talks are scheduled between 2:30 and 5:00 PM
Lexington Minute Men on November 21, 2013. “Patriot intelligence and decision making precipitating the iconic Midnight Rides occurring in Boston on the evening of April 18, 1775.” Author talk and signing. Lexington, MA.
Joseph Warren Gothic Lodge No. 934 on November 13, 2013. Illustrated author lecture, with emphasis on Dr. Warren’s Masonic leadership, and book signing. Renaissance Room, 6th floor of the Masonic Grand Lodge, New York City.
Questers, October 28, 2013. Illustrated author lecture. Dwight Derby House, Medfield, MA.
Boston University, October 2, 2013. Guest lecturer in Prof. Richard Hynes’ popular “History of Boston” course.
Lexington Historical Society, Lexington Minute Men, and His Majesty’s 10th Regiment, July 18, 2013. I hosted and introduced Nathaniel Philbrick for an author talk and signing of his new book. Philbrick features Joseph Warren amongst his cast of historical characters in his bestselling Bunker Hill, and draws extensively from my new biography of Warren. Lexington, MA.
Bunker Hill Monument, June 17, 2013. Remarks during annual observances and rededication of the statue to Warren, Bunker Monument Association and the National Park Service. Charlestown in Boston, MA.
North End/Waterfront Residents’ Association, June 13, 2013. Talk on “Dr. Joseph Warren and his North End friends.” Boston, MA.
Old South Meeting House, March 7, 2013. Lecture and signing. “Dr. Joseph Warren, The Boston Massacre Orations, and Americans’ Conception of Self.” Boston, MA.
Massachusetts Medical Society, Plymouth District, February 28, 2013. Lecture and signing. Cohasset, MA.
American Revolutionary War Round Table of the Minute Man National Historic Park, Monday, February 4, 2013. Lincoln, MA.
Boston University School of Medicine/Boston Medical Center, January 4, 2013. Medical Grand Rounds. “Before BMC: Dr. Joseph Warren, Clinical Medicine, Public Health, and Government Health Programs During the American Revolutionary Era.”
Harvard Club of the North Shore, December 10, 2012, Hawthorne Hotel, Salem, MA.
Massachusetts Medical Society, Norfolk South, December 4, 2012. Lecture and signing at annual holiday meeting, Quincy, MA.
Tufts University, November 12, 2012. Veterans Day address, Medford campus.
Roxbury Latin School, November 1, 2012. Founder’s Day keynote speaker.
Old South Meeting House, October 25, 2012, Lecture and signing. “New England Resurrectionists, Dr. Joseph Warren’s Head, and a Most Itinerant Corpse.” – A (mostly) serious talk on seasonally appropriate themes. Boston, MA. Program is funded in part by the Lowell Institute.
Lexington Historical Society, October 23, 2012. Book discussion group led by the author. Munroe Tavern, Lexington, MA.
Boston University, October 17, 2012. Guest lecturer in Prof. Richard Hynes’ popular “History of Boston” course. Boston, MA.
Vine Lake Cemetery, September 29, 2012. “The Doctor is In” – 18th and early 19th century terminal illnesses discussed during graveyard walking tour. This is where Joseph Warren’s fiancee Miss Mercy Scollay is buried. Medfield, MA.
Falmouth Museums on the Green, August 22, 2012. “Medicine, Heroics, and Romance in Revolutionary Massachusetts.” Lecture and signing. Falmouth, MA.
Fletcher Spaght Ventures: “Medicine, Politics, and Health Finance in the Founding Era with Implications for Today” August 7, 2012. Lecture and signing (by invitation). Boston, MA
Abbot Public Library and Hugo Books, July 11, 2012. Lecture and signing. Marblehead, MA.
Bostonian Society at the Old State House Museum, July 3, 2012. Lecture and signing. Boston, MA
Massachusetts Daughters of the American Revolution, May 16, 2012. Bedford, MA.
Vine Lake Cemetery, Patriot’s Day, April 16, 2012. Graveside reading from Miss Mercy Scollay’s newly attributed works and signing. Medfield, MA.
Cape Cod Tufts Club – April 14, 2012. 12 Noon. Author lecture and signing.
Harvard University – School of Public Health, March 21, 2012. Dean’s distinguished author event. Atul Gawande, discussant. Boston, MA.
Boston Public Library – March 7, 2012. Copley Square, Boston, MA.
Medfield Historical Society – March 5, 2012. Medfield, MA.
Massachusetts Historical Society – February 17, 2012. Boston, MA.
Bathhouse Lecture Series, Hull Library and Hull Lifesaving Museum – February 9, 2012.
Old South Meeting House, Boston, MA – January 19, 2012.
Newtonville Books and Yale Alumni – January 11, 2012. Newtonville, MA.
Brookline Booksmith – January 3, 2012. Brookline, MA,
