User blog comment:Subject 12/Assassinews 04/07 -- Assassin's Creed III at PAX East/@comment-4956325-20120408061758

I always appreciated the level of research required for these chaps to write the deaths of real historical figures into the storyline.

Historically, Major John Pitcairn was a British Marine, who was in command of the light infantry force that squared off against the revolutionaries on Lexington green, following "The Shot Heard 'Round the World." on April 19th, 1775.

He commanded a batallion of 300 marines at the battle of Bunker (Breed's) hill, and led his men all the way to the crest of the slope, where he was felled by a rifle or musket shot, reportedly fired by a black former slave called Peter Salem. He fell into the arms of his son William, also a marine, who is said to have cried "I have Lost my Father!"

His status as a member of the Knights Templar is unknown.