The Hercules Mulligan Quiz

Estimated Completion Time
2 min
The Hercules Mulligan Quiz
Image: Hulton Archive/Getty Images

About This Quiz

Hercules Mulligan played a major role in the battle for American independence, even if his name isn't as well known as the founding fathers'. Take our quiz to see how much you know about the life and legend of this secret spy!
Where was Hercules Mulligan born?
Spain
Ireland
France
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Mulligan was born in Ireland in 1740 and emigrated to what is now the United States at age 6.

Advertisement

What founding father came to live with Mulligan while in college?
George Washington
James Madison
Alexander Hamilton
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

An 18-year-old Alexander Hamilton moved in with Mulligan and was heavily influenced by Mulligan's ideals.

Advertisement

What was Mulligan's profession?
tailor
butcher
doctor
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Mulligan opened his clothing shop in 1774 and was a tailor to the British military leaders stationed in New York.

Advertisement

True or false: Alexander Hamilton was in favor of British rule when he met Mulligan.
true
false
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A pro-British Hamilton changed his tune after living with Mulligan and went on to join the Sons of Liberty and write an important essay promoting independence.

Advertisement

What was the name of Mulligan's slave?
Cato
Kenneth
Camden
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Mulligan's slave, Cato, played an important role in Mulligan's spying activities, often carrying messages to help the colonists in their fight against the British.

Advertisement

What year did Mulligan fight in the Battle of Golden Hill?
1760
1770
1780
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Mulligan took part in the pre-Revolution Battle of Golden Hill in 1770.

Advertisement

What was the name of Mulligan's brother?
Henry
Hugh
Harold
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Mulligan's brother, Hugh, not only introduced Mulligan to Alexander Hamilton, but also played a critical role in spying activities.

Advertisement

Where did Mulligan go to school?
Harvard University
Yale University
Columbia University
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Mulligan attended King's College, which later became Columbia University.

Advertisement

Whose statue did Mulligan steal from Bowling Green Park?
George Washington
Queen Victoria
King George III
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

On July 6, 1776, Mulligan joined a group of rebel colonists to steal a statute of King George III. They later melted it down to make bullets.

Advertisement

Who suggested to George Washington that Mulligan would make the perfect spy?
Alexander Hamilton
James Madison
Benjamin Franklin
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

It was Alexander Hamilton, aide to Washington, who suggested to George that Mulligan the tailor would be a great source of information about the British.

Advertisement

True or false: Mulligan saved Washington's life in 1779.
true
false
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

After scoring some key intelligence from a soldier buying a coat, Mulligan was able to save George Washington from British capture in 1779.

Advertisement

Where was Washington planning to travel when Mulligan saved him for the second time?
New York
Baltimore
Rhode Island
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Mulligan saved Washington's life again in 1781, when the future president was planning to travel to Newport, Rhode Island.

Advertisement

True or false: Many colonists thought that Mulligan was in favor of British rule.
true
false
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Mulligan did such a good job cozying up to the Brits for info that other colonists thought he might be on the British side of the war.

Advertisement

How many children did Mulligan have?
three
eight
12
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Mulligan had eight children: three sons and five daughters.

Advertisement

How old was Mulligan when he finally retired from his shop?
60
70
80
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Mulligan worked as a tailor up until age 80 and died five years later.

Advertisement

Where is Mulligan buried?
Connecticut
New York
Pennsylvania
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Mulligan is buried at Trinity Church in New York City, right next to his friend Alexander Hamilton.

Advertisement

True or false: After the war, Mulligan became a tailor for George Washington.
true
false
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

To reassure locals that Mulligan was on the side of the colonists, Washington hired Mulligan as his personal tailor.

Advertisement

What did the Manumission Society fight against?
the British
women's rights
slavery
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Mulligan was a founding member of the New York Manumission Society, which fought against slavery.

Advertisement

What was the name of Mulligan's wife?
Elizabeth
Sarah
Anne
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Mulligan married up — tying the knot with the Elizabeth Sanders, the niece of a British admiral.

Advertisement

What pro-independence group was Mulligan part of?
Sons of Anarchy
Sons of Liberty
Sons of America
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Mulligan joined the Sons of Liberty in 1765 and took part in many battles and skirmishes in the war towards independence.

Advertisement

True or false: The British never suspected Mulligan of being a spy.
true
false
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Mulligan actually faced several interrogations and spent some time in jail for his suspected espionage activities.

Advertisement

What spy ring was Mulligan a part of?
Culper Ring
Newport Ring
Philadelphia Ring
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Mulligan was a part of the famous Culper Ring, a ring of spies led by Benjamin Tallmadge of Long Island, New York.

Advertisement

What punishment did Mulligan fear from the colonists after the war?
tar and feather
banishment to Australia
beheading
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Mulligan feared he would be tarred and feathered because so many colonists believed that he was friendly with the British.

Advertisement

True or false: Mulligan greeted his store customers personally to win their trust and gain better intelligence.
true
false
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Mulligan had several employees but preferred to greet and measure his clients personally — he often used a shot of whiskey to loosen lips.

Advertisement

What did Mulligan and Hamilton steal from Manhattan's Battery?
cannons
gold
food
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Mulligan and Hamilton stole British cannons from the Battery as the warship Asia fired at them.

Advertisement

True or false: Cato suffered for passing intelligence between Mulligan and other colonists.
true
false
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

After Cato was caught passing on a message, Mulligan stopped using Cato in his spying activities.

Advertisement

What year did "Hamilton" premiere on Broadway?
2014
2015
2016
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"Hamilton" premiered in February 2015 and was a major hit, transforming Hercules Mulligan and other characters into household names.

Advertisement

Who came up with "Hamilton" and penned its famous songs?
Andrew Lloyd Webber
Cameron Mackintosh
Lin-Manuel Miranda
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Producer Lin-Manuel Miranda was inspired to write his smash musical after reading Ron Chernow's comprehensive biography of Alexander Hamilton.

Advertisement

Who plays Mulligan in the musical?
Matthew Broderick
Okieriete Onadowan
Cuba Gooding Jr.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Nigerian-born Onadowan originated the role of Hercules Mulligan on Broadway.

Advertisement

What other founding father does Onadowan play in the musical?
James Madison
Alexander Hamilton
Paul Revere
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Onadowan plays the bold, rapping Mulligan and the much more meek James Madison.

Advertisement

You Got:
/30
Hulton Archive/Getty Images