Who is the author of The First Conspiracy?

The authors of The First Conspiracy are Brad Meltzer and Josh Mensch.

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The First Conspiracy Book Summary - The First Conspiracy Book explained in key points

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Name: The First Conspiracy
Rating: 4.2 (85 reviews)
Author: Brad Meltzer and Josh Mensch

Brad Meltzer Josh Mensch

The Secret Plot to Kill George Washington

4.2 (85 ratings)

19 mins

Brief summary

The First Conspiracy by Brad Meltzer and Josh Mensch is a non-fiction historical book that reveals the plot to assassinate George Washington and the secret service that saved his life.

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US History

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The First Conspiracy
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What’s in it for me? Discover the secret plot to bring down George Washington.

How much do you know about the events leading up to the birth of the American nation? Chances are you haven’t been given the full story, but rather have gotten snippets of heroic tales or events like the Boston Tea Party. But now, for the first time, you’ll discover the true story behind one of the most shocking chapters in this era of history: the plot to assassinate George Washington, then-general of the continental army and future first president of the United States of America. Replete with a cast of heroic freedom fighters, villains and traitorous turncoats, this is one epic war story you won’t want to miss.

You’ll go on a journey to discover the circumstances under which George Washington was elected to lead the nascent nation’s first-ever army, and learn about the challenges he faced during his first year in command. In this dramatic retelling of true events, you’ll get a feel for the risks, brutality and animosity of this crucial period in American history, and glimpse the brutal reality of colonial life under British rule.

Read on to discover

Why George Washington was elected general of the new continental army;
Which brutal British Loyalist almost thwarted him; and
How Washington dealt with those who betrayed him.

In 1775, colonial leaders from across America gathered to discuss their relationship with Britain.

May 10th, 1775, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The United States of America did not yet exist. What would eventually become states were, at that point, known as colonies. And who was the colonial overlord ruling these colonies? Great Britain.

But America’s colonial subjects were not content with this state of affairs. And this is why our story begins in Philadelphia. The Second Continental Congress met here but was nothing like the Congress we know from politics today. In 1775, this institution had no legitimacy in the eyes of the British, and its members simply coming together constituted a revolutionary statement in itself.

This Congress was made up of delegates from all 13 colonies, and they were there to debate one thing: the prospect of going to war with Britain.

Over the previous year, the British Crown, then embodied by George III, had had a strained relationship with its colonial subjects. There had been bitter disputes over the taxes, trade and tariffs imposed on the colonies. The Crown’s oppressive fiscal policies had been met with ever growing protests and rallies. England’s response? The Crown answered with the might of its military – sending in its armies to put down protests and reassert its total control.

Just one year before, a war with Britain would have been unthinkable. However, earlier in 1775, a tipping point was reached.

In the northeastern colonies of New England, local men had been forming rebel militias and preparing to oppose British authorities. In response, on April 19, 1775, British troops marched on Concord and Lexington, two towns near Boston, Massachusetts, and attempted to arrest militia leaders. In the ensuing skirmish with armed locals, both sides took heavy casualties,and at least eight townspeople were killed.

Now, one month after this incident, the Second Continental Congress was asking itself whether the time was ripe for every colony to organize and bear arms against the Crown.

There was also another reason why the colonists had insurrection on their minds. Over the previous few years, a new idea from Europe, put forward by American Enlightenment philosopher Thomas Paine, had started to take root in American hearts and minds: the inherent right of a people to select its own government and engage in self-rule.

Today, many of us take this right of self-rule for granted, but in 1775, the concept of liberty was radical and dangerous. Nonetheless, on May 10th in Philadelphia, it was on many delegates’ lips.

George Washington was selected to lead the colonies’ new army.

Despite the whisper of liberty in the air, the delegates at the 1775 Second Continental Congress were still cautious – they were not yet convinced of the need for a full-scale war with England. However, there was one thing they were all convinced of: the need for a national American army that could fight a war with the British if needed.

This army, the first of its kind in colonial America, would coordinate the rebel militias that had sprung up across New England into a coherent military and would also enlist men from across the colonies. Once the delegates had agreed on this plan, the next major question arose: Who would lead this army?

George Washington’s archnemesis would soon be William Tryon, governor of New York.

Ten days after being appointed general of the new continental army, George Washington led a contingent of soldiers toward Boston, where British forces had imposed a strict state of martial law, and confiscated thousands of guns from local citizens. On his way to New England, Washington passed through New York, then the second-largest settlement, after Philadelphia, in the colonies. As he paraded through the city, greeted by crowds of patriotic well-wishers, Washington brushed up against a dangerous adversary.

This adversary was none other than the governor of New York, William Tryon, a fierce loyalist to the British Crown. Born into an aristocratic family in England in 1729, Tryon was initially an officer in the British military, before setting sail for America in the 1760s in search of opportunity and riches.

In revolutionary America, allegiances were constantly shifting.

In the months following George Washington’s appointment as general of the continental army, he concentrated on swelling the ranks of his new forces, as well as forcing the British to retreat from Boston, where they maintained a chokehold over the city. Camped out with his troops on the outskirts of the city, Washington could clearly see the British foe. Unfortunately, he couldn’t see the other foe – the one that lurked within his own ranks.

Though he was already an experienced military veteran, Washington was unprepared for the dangerous situation he now faced in this particular conflict. Whereas previously it was obvious who was the enemy and who were friends, now, as the prospect of war with the British loomed, allegiances were far less clear-cut.

In 1776, Governor Tryon's allegiance emboldened him to try to kidnap George Washington.

In March 1776, Washington’s army succeeded in driving the British army out of Boston. However, the repercussions of this victory were grave indeed. Now, Great Britain would send all its might to secure New York. And if the British were heading to the city, that meant George Washington and his military must, too. For the first time, General Washington and Governor Tryon were on a collision course.

In March 1776, William Tryon was well aware of the threat that Washington and the Continental army posed to the Crown’s hold on New York. However, Tryon was also aware that the British military were still several weeks away from reaching the city. The governor pondered how he could undermine the patriotic forces until their arrival.

Loose talk may well have saved George Washington’s life.

So how could a well-funded plan with men not only on the inside, but in absolute proximity to Washington not have succeeded? Remarkably, the failure of Tryon’s plot was mostly due to a chance encounter in a New York jail.

On June 15, 1776, a man named Isaac Ketcham languished in a city jail cell, charged with counterfeiting money. That night, two more prisoners joined him. These men were soldiers in the continental army and had also been detained for counterfeiting. To Ketcham’s shock, the men revealed their knowledge of Tryon’s plot. More incredibly still, they told Ketcham that not only did they know about this plot, but they were also part of it. The final blow? They were not merely continental soldiers; they said they were both Life Guards – George Washington’s bodyguards.

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What is The First Conspiracy about?

The First Conspiracy (2019) explores the shocking 1776 plot to kidnap, and possibly assassinate, George Washington. Washington was not yet president of the United States, but general of the colonies’ army. Using fascinating anecdotes and insights from this period of history, these blinks examine the suspicions, uncertainty and betrayals in the period leading up to the Revolutionary War.

The First Conspiracy Review

The First Conspiracy (2019) tells the thrilling story of the secret plot to assassinate George Washington during the early days of the American Revolution. Here's why this book is worth reading:

It uncovers a fascinating piece of history that is often overlooked, shedding new light on the founding of the United States.
Through meticulous research and detailed storytelling, the authors bring the events to life, immersing readers in the tense atmosphere of the time.
The book offers a fresh perspective on a well-known figure, revealing the vulnerability and resilience of Washington, making it an engaging and eye-opening read.

Best quote from The First Conspiracy

With so many divided loyalties, the landscape was ripe for treachery, spying, and double-crossing.

—Brad Meltzer and Josh Mensch

Who should read The First Conspiracy?

History buffs looking for fresh insights into America’s revolutionary era
True crime enthusiasts
Anyone interested in George Washington’s life and times

About the Author

Brad Meltzer is an American writer and bestselling author of The Escape Artist (2018). He has been named by the Hollywood Reporter as one of "Hollywood's Most Powerful Authors," and every one of his thriller novels has featured on the New York Times Bestseller list. Josh Mensch is an author and documentary maker whose work deals with the culture and history of the United States. He has written, directed, and produced acclaimed television series for PBS, The History Channel and National Geographic.

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