'Vanishingly rare' copy of US Declaration of Independence unearthed in UK archives

A "vanishingly rare" copy of the Declaration of Independence has been discovered in London, tucked away in archives containing documents from the British capture of an American privateer in 1776. The find comes as the United States prepares to celebrate its 250th anniversary.

The text, famous for its rallying cry for "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness," was listed in 18th-century records simply as "another document." However, in May, a volunteer at Britain's National Archives took a closer look and identified its significance.

"Unearthing and handling such a significant historical document has been thrilling, particularly in this important anniversary year," said Michael Scurr, the volunteer who found it while working on a cataloging project. The discovery was announced Friday, just before the U.S. semiquincentennial.

In 1776, printers rushed to reproduce the Declaration after its adoption by Congress on July 4. The copy found in London was printed in Exeter, New Hampshire, in mid-July 1776. It is the 11th surviving copy of the so-called "Exeter Declarations" and the first ever found outside the United States.

Records indicate that Eleazer Johnson, captain of the American privateer ship Dalton, acquired a copy later that year. He may have hoped the text would inspire his crew as they set sail to seize British vessels. However, the Royal Navy captured the Dalton off the coast of Portugal on December 24, 1776, bringing the ship and its contents back to Plymouth, England. The National Archives noted that this document is the only known copy of the declaration taken during military action.

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Unearthing and handling such a significant historical document has been thrilling, particularly in this important anniversary year.