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Why did the British evacuate Boston in 1776?

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American Revolution *The Surrender of Lord Cornwallis* (at Yorktown, Virginia, on October 19, 1781), oil on canvas by John Trumbull, completed in 1820; in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda, Washington, D.C. The painting captures the moment when major fighting during the American Revolution ended and the colonies achieved independence.

The British evacuated Boston on March 17, 1776, primarily because their position in the city became untenable due to the actions of the Continental Army under General George Washington.31

Following the Siege of Boston, the strategic balance shifted in early 1776 when General Henry Knox successfully transported heavy artillery from Fort Ticonderoga to the American forces. On March 4, 1776, Washington seized and fortified Dorchester Heights, which overlooked the city and harbor. By mounting the captured cannons on these heights, the Americans were able to train their fire directly on the British fleet and garrison.23

Faced with this direct threat, the British commander, General William Howe, determined that the city could no longer be held and ordered an evacuation by ship. Following the departure, Howe retreated to Halifax to regroup for future operations.32