1781–1782: After the Surrender My Name is Wentworth Cheswell: Patriot, Teacher, and Servant of the People I was born in 1746 in Newmarket, New Hampshire, into a family that had known both bondage and freedom. My grandfather came to these shores as an enslaved man but earned his freedom through hard work and faith. My father, Hopestill Cheswell, became a respected landowner and craftsman—a rarity for a Black man in our time. From him, I learned that education, diligence, and i

My Name is Rochambeau (Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, Comte de Rochambeau): Commander of the French Army in America I was born in 1725 in Vendôme, France, into a noble family of warriors. My father, a devoted officer, taught me that honor and discipline were the lifeblood of a soldier. From the time I could walk, I dreamed not of courts or comforts, but of command—of earning my place through service rather than privilege. When I entered the French Army at seventeen, I carr

My Name is General Benjamin Lincoln: Commander of the Southern Campaigns I was born in Hingham, Massachusetts, in 1733, into a family that valued faith, diligence, and service. My father was a farmer and deacon, and from him I learned the value of both duty and humility. As a young man, I entered local politics and served as town clerk, later rising to the rank of colonel in the Massachusetts militia. Before the Revolution, I was a loyal subject of the Crown, devoted to peace

My Name is General William Alexander, “Lord Stirling”: Loyal Son of Liberty I was born in New York City in 1726, into a family of Scottish descent with a proud sense of heritage and responsibility. My father, James Alexander, had been a respected colonial official and lawyer, a man of intellect and strong conviction. From him, I inherited not only a keen mind for organization but also a sense of duty to serve the colonies that had become our home. Yet I also carried a deeper

My Name is Nathan Hale: American Patriot and Spy I was born in Coventry, Connecticut, in 1755, to a large family that valued faith, learning, and duty. From my earliest days, I sought to live with purpose, to be useful to my fellow man and to the ideals that seemed to stir in the hearts of so many around me. When I attended Yale College, I was filled with excitement for philosophy, languages, and the sciences—but even more for the promise of a world where reason and liberty g

My Name is Admiral Charles Hector, comte d’Estaing: French Fleet Commander I was born in 1729 in Auvergne, France, into a family of noble standing and military tradition. My father served honorably in the army, and from a young age, I too was drawn to the life of service and command. I began my career in the French army, earning distinction in the War of the Austrian Succession, but it was the call of the sea that truly captured my ambition. By the 1750s, I transferred to the

My Name is Darius I the Great: King of Kings of the Persian Empire I was not born the heir to a throne but rather into the royal line of the Achaemenids, distant from power yet bound by loyalty. My father, Hystaspes, served nobly under Cyrus the Great, and I was trained in the arts of war and governance from an early age. When Cambyses, son of Cyrus, set out to conquer Egypt, I joined his campaign. It was during this time that Persia fell into chaos. A usurper claimed the thr

My Name is General John Burgoyne: British General and Dramatist I was born in 1722 in Sutton, England, into a world of elegance and expectation. My family was modest in means but noble in spirit, and I grew up yearning for both adventure and recognition. The army called to me as a stage upon which a man of wit and bravery could earn his place in history. I purchased a commission and began my career in the British cavalry, where I soon earned a reputation for boldness and char

My Name is King Nabonidus: The Last King of Babylon I am Nabonidus, the last king to sit upon the throne of Babylon. My reign began in the year 556 before the birth of Christ, a time when our empire still gleamed from the triumphs of Nebuchadnezzar. Yet I inherited a kingdom restless beneath its own glory. The temples overflowed with offerings, the people sang praises to Marduk, and yet, I felt the divine favor slipping away. I did not come from a royal line like those before

My Name is John Laurens: Patriot Soldier and Advocate for Liberty I was born in 1754 in Charleston, South Carolina, to one of the most prominent families in the colonies. My father, Henry Laurens, was a wealthy merchant and later served as President of the Continental Congress. From an early age, I was taught the ways of refinement, learning in London where my father conducted business. Yet even in that world of luxury, I felt the pull of something greater—the call of justice