Which 1775 battle is commonly remembered as the first major battle of the American Revolutionary War?

The Battle of Bunker Hill is commonly remembered as the first major battle of the American Revolutionary War.

Fought on June 17, 1775, the battle took place mainly on Breed’s Hill near Boston, Massachusetts. Colonial forces fortified the heights while British troops launched repeated attacks. The British captured the position, but suffered heavy casualties, while the colonial defenders demonstrated that they could stand against regular troops.

The battle’s name is historically confusing because most fighting occurred on Breed’s Hill, not nearby Bunker Hill. The engagement happened before the Declaration of Independence and before George Washington took command of the Continental Army. Its high cost helped convince British leaders that suppressing the rebellion would require a prolonged war.