The history of influential whistleblowers in U.S. politics goes all the way back to Richard Marven and Samuel Shaw during the Revolutionary War, during which the two U.S. Navy officers shone a light on Commodore Esek Hopkins’ torture of captured British personnel. As a result, a year later saw the Whistleblower Protection Act of 1778 was implemented to protect informants that came forward with sensitive information.
In more recent decades further whistleblowers have come forward with information about everything from the Watergate scandal to White House infidelity. Their contributions have become so entrenched in US history that July 30 has now been designated as National Whistleblower Appreciation Day. Here are some of the most influential whistleblowers who helped shape America.
