Oliver Wolcott (1726–1797)

Oliver Wolcott was a Connecticut judge and military officer who balanced the rigors of the courtroom with the demands of the battlefield. As a delegate to the Continental Congress, he signed the Declaration of Independence, though his service was frequently interrupted by his duties as a major general in the militia. He is most famously remembered for overseeing the destruction of a lead statue of King George III in New York City, which was subsequently melted down into 42,000 bullets for the Continental Army. Wolcott served with distinction at the Battle of Saratoga and later held the office of Governor of Connecticut. His "fortitude" and dual service as a civilian and soldier made him a symbol of the multifaceted leadership required to win the war.