Captain Daniel Malcolm^[1] (c. 1725 – October 23, 1769) was an American merchant, sea captain, and smuggler.^[2] Malcolm was known for resisting the British authorities in the years leading up to the American Revolutionary War.^[3] He was the brother of John Malcolm, a minor British customs officer who was violently tarred and feathered by a Boston mob.^[4]

When the Townshend Acts were passed, Malcolm instigated a boycott on British imports. He led a group of Boston merchants to stop importing products for a year in 1769.^[5] He was particularly noted for smuggling sixty casks of wine without paying any dues.^[6] When British customs men showed up to confiscate the contraband stowed in his cellar, he refused. Malcolm was able to muster four hundred men and boys to block British reinforcements.^[2] This episode is said to have contributed to the Liberty Affair involving John Hancock.^[7][8] Malcolm publicized the illegal seizure of a vessel owned by Hancock, who was also a known smuggler.^[9] It is said that he took risk in providing this eye witness account, which was published in the Boston Chronicle's January 9, 1769, issue.^[9] The Liberty Affair led to a riot that was one of the main factors in the British government's decision to send troops to Boston, a move that would culminate in the Boston Massacre on March 5, 1770.^[10]

Malcolm died on October 23, 1769, and was buried in Boston's Copp's Hill Burying Ground.^[6] He is said to have asked to be buried in the location, ten feet deep "safe from British bullets".^[6] His body was left alone but his tombstone was singled out for target practice by the Red Coats.^[11]

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