Which town saw the opening clash of the American Revolutionary War at Lexington?

Lexington, Massachusetts, saw the opening clash of the American Revolutionary War on April 19, 1775.

British troops marched from Boston toward Concord to seize colonial military supplies. At sunrise, British regulars encountered local militia on Lexington Common. The engagement was brief, but the exchange of fire became the opening combat of the war.

The British continued to Concord, where colonial militia confronted them at the North Bridge. During the return march to Boston, additional militia attacked the British column from the surrounding countryside. The day ended with substantial casualties on both sides and demonstrated that resistance had become an armed conflict.

The first shot at Lexington remains historically disputed. Accounts from British and Patriot participants disagree about who fired first, and some witnesses said they did not know. What is not disputed is the date, the location of the first clash at Lexington, and the wider battle's role in beginning the Revolutionary War.