Revolutionary War historian Thomas Maguire will give a free lecture at the West Goshen Township Administration Building on Thursday, Nov. 12.
The 7 p.m. presentation is part of the America 250 at Goshen series, a joint effort by East Goshen and West Goshen townships to mark the nation's 250th anniversary. According to the township's event listing, Maguire is "nationally recognized as the premier scholar of Philadelphia-area Revolutionary War battles."
Advance registration is required. Residents can sign up through the township's online form.
Maguire, a Villanova University graduate who has lived in the Brandywine Valley since 1992, has authored six books on the region's role in the war. His titles include Battle of Paoli and the two-volume Philadelphia Campaign. He also served as a researcher for David McCullough's Pulitzer Prize-winning John Adams and its follow-up, 1776.
According to the township's event listing, Maguire has taught history at Malvern Preparatory School since 1980. He served as vice president of the Paoli Battlefield Preservation Fund from 1996 to 2002 and guest-curated the Chester County Historical Society's "War Comes to Chester County 1777-78" exhibition in 1997.
The battles Maguire has written about unfolded just miles from the Nov. 12 venue. The Battle of Paoli, fought on Sept. 20, 1777, near present-day Malvern, saw British forces launch a nighttime surprise attack on American troops under Brigadier General Anthony Wayne. The engagement became known as the "Paoli Massacre."
The America 250 at Goshen series has featured presentations, battlefield tours and community events throughout 2026. Residents who collect 10 or more stamps in an event passport, available at both township buildings, receive a commemorative T-shirt.
The presentation takes place at 1025 Paoli Pike, West Chester. Questions can be directed to Kenneth Lehr at [email protected].
