What was the name of the June 17, 1775 battle in which British forces captured Breed’s Hill near Boston?

The Battle of Bunker Hill was fought on June 17, 1775, when British forces captured Breed’s Hill near Boston.

The battle occurred during the Siege of Boston, early in the American Revolutionary War. Colonial troops fortified Breed’s Hill on the Charlestown Peninsula, intending to threaten British positions and control access to Boston Harbor.

British troops eventually seized the colonial position after three assaults, making the battle a British victory. However, the British suffered far heavier casualties than the colonial forces, including many officers. The costly result showed that inexperienced American troops could stand against regular British soldiers.

Despite its name, most of the fighting took place on Breed’s Hill rather than Bunker Hill. The battle retained the name Bunker Hill because Bunker Hill was the original objective and a prominent nearby landmark. It is often described as the first major battle of the American Revolutionary War, although fighting at Lexington and Concord had begun two months earlier.