Which image best tells us what Hermon (or Herman) Husband actually looked like? And who the heck is Hermon (or Herman) Husband, anyway? Wikipedia says Husband's first name is spelled "Herman." The New York Times Magazine, and author Woody Holton, says it's "Hermon."
Well, let me return to this more important question: Spelling issues aside, "who the heck is (or was) Hermon (or Herman) Husband?"
Though our Fourth of July holiday has passed, I am still reading and thinking about that 250th anniversary of the signing of The Declaration of Independence. July moves on, but I'm still stuck on July 4th. As someone who majored in American History in college, this only seems natural.
For those who weren't aware of this, virtually the entirety of the July 5, 2026, issue of The New York Times Magazine was devoted to a series of articles that The Times called, "Visions of America." I am making my way through that special edition of the magazine, and I am also still reading another special section of the July 5th edition of The Times that was focused on "six sentences that have shaped the American story." Clicking those links I have provided should give you access, even if you're not a subscriber to The New York Times. [And for those who aren't, but who might like to read The Times, from time to time, let me remind you that anyone who possesses a Santa Cruz City-County library card - free to County residents - gets free online access to The New York Times].
As someone whose favorite book is titled, On Revolution, I like to think that I am pretty well-versed in the history of the American Revolution. However, until I read those "Visions of America" articles (seven articles, by seven leading historians, focused on little-known revolutionary leaders), I was not really aware of how little I actually did know. I commend the series to you!
Hermon Husband (I'll use The Times' spelling) is described by author Woody Holton and The Times as a "radical pacifist who inspired the first armed rebellion of the founding era." I was most struck by Holton's description of how Husband worked to make sure that actual power would be available to "ordinary Americans." He was, in other words, someone who worked to provide the kind of real political power to ordinary people that would allow the nation actually to be governed by "we, the people," not just by "the elites."
In case you haven't been reading the news, this is a real problem today. Elites of various kinds, from the billionaires on down, are actually the people who are "running the place." In the United States of America, that is not the way it's supposed to go. Hermon Husband knew that, right after the American Revolution disposed of British rule, and we've still got the same problem today. I identify with Hermon!
Read up. Maybe you'll identify with Hermon, too.
(1) - https://thewayofimprovement.blog/2012/12/17/herman-husband/
(2) - https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2026/06/22/magazine/american-revolution-hermon-husband-william-tryon.html
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