What was the result of the 1775 Battle of Bunker Hill?

The Battle of Bunker Hill ended in a British victory on June 17, 1775.

The battle took place during the Siege of Boston, early in the American Revolutionary War. Colonial forces fortified Breed’s Hill on the Charlestown Peninsula, although the engagement became known by the name of nearby Bunker Hill. British troops captured the position after three assaults.

The British held the ground, but their victory came at a heavy cost. British casualties were much higher than the colonial losses, and the battle demonstrated that American militia could withstand disciplined regular troops. The famous order traditionally associated with the battle—“Don’t fire until you see the whites of their eyes”—is linked to the colonial defense, though its exact speaker is debated.

Because the fighting largely occurred on Breed’s Hill, the battle’s name can be misleading. Its military result was British control of the peninsula, while its political effect strengthened colonial resolve and encouraged continued resistance.